Uganda's Executive Approved Katungi Extradition Months Before Court Hearing, Documents Reveal

Newly surfaced government documents reveal that Uganda’s Executive, through the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Justice, gave the green light for the extradition of Michael Katungi Mpeirwe to the United States in March 2026. This approval came months before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court commenced hearings on the matter, shedding light on the distinct roles of the Executive and Judiciary in the extradition process.

The earliest communication, dated March 27, 2026, is a letter from Solicitor General Pius Perry Biribonwoha to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). It references a diplomatic note from the U.S. Embassy requesting Katungi’s extradition to face narcotics and firearms trafficking charges in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Biribonwoha concluded that Uganda could legally assist the U.S. under the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Uganda’s Extradition Act, Cap. 124. He then forwarded the request to the DPP for further action.

This internal Executive approval was later cited in a June 16, 2026, court filing by the DPP. An application seeking an arrest warrant stated that the Attorney General’s Chambers had approved the extradition on April 7, 2026. Following this, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao formally requested the Chief Magistrate to issue an arrest warrant on April 14, 2026, as per Section 8 of the Extradition Act.

While the Executive branches concluded their review and approval process prior to court involvement, the judicial process remained a mandatory step. The DPP subsequently applied to the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court for an arrest warrant. Katungi, who denies the allegations and is contesting his extradition, was arrested and appeared in court. His lawyers argued that the substantive extradition application had not been filed, but the court remanded him, directing the prosecution to file the application by July 1, with a hearing set for July 10.

Katungi is wanted in the United States for alleged narcotics and firearms offenses and conspiracy related to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación. The correspondence offers a clear view into the behind-the-scenes workings of Uganda’s extradition procedures prior to the case entering public court proceedings.

Source: Nile Post