Ugandan mining company, Blessed Riverstones Uganda Ltd (BRUL), has refuted recent allegations claiming that its CEO, Mr. Jailes Bahati Mumbere, was involved in a fraudulent gold transaction with a Congolese national.
In a statement, the company said it has engaged with the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) and the Uganda Mineral Police to clarify the matter and protect the reputation of legitimate mineral operators in Uganda.
“BRUL has identified the source of the allegations as Kasongo Mwana Kitenge Deo, a Congolese national who poses as a pastor and operates with his wife. Investigations indicate that Kasongo is a habitual fraudster who has defrauded multiple investors by presenting fake gold, forged documents, and false safekeeping receipts,” the company said.
It said that the Congolese reportedly collaborates with networks in Uganda to give credibility to his schemes and manipulate narratives against legitimate companies.
According to the company, Adrien Musavuli, the Director of Alluvionaire Minerals Ltd, where Kasongo claims to have delivered gold described him as a broker involved in defrauding investors and falsely claims to represent mining communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC.
BRUL emphasized that Kasongo’s claims of depositing 1,550 kilograms of gold and paying $2 million to the company are completely false.
“When interrogated by authorities, Kasongo failed to provide any evidence of ownership, lawful importation, or proof of payment. The documents he produced were forged and bore neither his name nor that of his wife,” said Mr. Simon Obel Omondi, Director of Operations at BRUL.
The company said that it has a few outstanding transactions with clients, which are being settled through legitimate commercial channels and are entirely unrelated to any fraud.
Omondi added that some competitors have attempted to influence BRUL’s clients and jeopardize business relationships through misinformation campaigns.
The company also dismissed claims that it employs 23 and that its CEO is hospitalized.
“Mr. Jailes Bahati is in good health and continues to conduct daily business from BRUL’s recently furnished office in Kigoowa, ntinda, not Kamwokya as some articles claim,” Omondi clarified.
“The public must exercise caution against imposters and fake news spread by individuals with criminal motives. Blessed Riverstones Uganda remains fully licensed, law-abiding, transparent, and committed to ethical mineral trade.”