KAMPALA — The Government of Uganda has ordered the surrender of Ugandan national Michael Katungi Mpeirwe to the United States of America to stand trial on criminal charges before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division.
The order was issued by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, pursuant to Section 12 of Uganda’s Extradition Act, Cap. 124, and follows a ruling by the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Buganda Road, Kampala.
According to the warrant, the United States Government requested Mpeirwe’s extradition through diplomatic channels in a Note Verbale dated December 23, 2025. Uganda subsequently considered the request under the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Extradition Act.
The Chief Magistrate’s Court at Buganda Road, in a ruling dated August 28, 2026, found that the legal requirements for Mpeirwe’s extradition had been satisfied and committed him to prison pending the Minister’s order for his surrender.
The warrant directs the Commissioner General of Prisons, or an officer authorised by him, to release and hand over Mpeirwe to an authorised representative of the Government of the United States.
It further authorises the U.S. representative to receive Mpeirwe, hold him in custody and convey him from Uganda to the jurisdiction of the United States in accordance with the Extradition Act.
Charges
The warrant states that Mpeirwe is wanted to face trial in Case No. 1:25-CR-102 (AJT) before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The charges listed against him are:
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing, intending and having reasonable cause to believe that it would be unlawfully imported into the United States;
- Conspiracy to possess firearms, including a machinegun and destructive device, in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime; and
- Conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation.
The case is listed as United States of America v. Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, Michael Katungi Mpeirwe and Subiro Osmund Mwapingа.
The surrender warrant, issued under the authority of the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, directs relevant Ugandan authorities to facilitate the lawful transfer of Mpeirwe to the duly authorised representative of the United States.
The document states that the surrender is to be carried out in accordance with Ugandan law, applicable extradition arrangements and any conditions governing the surrender.
The post Uganda Okays Extradition of Michael Katungi to United States appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.