The documents trace a coordinated chain of decisions by the Attorney General's Chambers, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs that culminated in the ongoing court proceedings, where Katungi is contesting his extradition to face narcotics and firearms trafficking charges in the United States.
The earliest document, dated March 27, 2026, is a letter from Solicitor General Pius Perry Biribonwoha to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The letter references an earlier communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs transmitting a diplomatic note from the United States Embassy requesting Katungi's extradition.
"The Government of the United States of America requests the extradition of Mr. Michael Katungi Mpeirwe for him to stand trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for narcotics and firearms offences," Biribonwoha wrote.
After reviewing the request, the Solicitor General concluded that Uganda could legally cooperate with the United States under both domestic and international law.
"We have considered the matter and note that the assistance may be rendered by virtue of the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Extradition Act, Cap. 124," the letter states.
The Solicitor General then forwarded the request to the DPP "for your further management."
That internal approval was subsequently referenced in another document dated June 16, 2026, filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court.
In the application seeking a warrant of arrest, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of International Cooperation Vicky Nabisenke stated that the Executive had already approved the extradition months earlier.
"On 07th April 2026, the Director of Public Prosecutions received approval from the Attorney General's Chambers to extradite Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, a Ugandan national believed to be residing in Uganda," the application states.
It further explains that the approval was granted because "the assistance may be rendered by virtue of the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Extradition Act, Cap. 124."
The DPP's application also reveals the next step in the process.
According to the filing, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao formally requested the Chief Magistrate to issue a warrant for Katungi's arrest following the Attorney General's approval.
"Pursuant to Section 8 of the Extradition Act, the Hon. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, in his letter dated 14th April 2026, requested you to issue a warrant for the apprehension of Michael Katungi Mpeirwe to pave way for his surrender to the United States of America," Nabisenke wrote.
A separate letter signed by Mao and addressed directly to the Chief Magistrate confirms the request.
"The matter has been considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who has since expressed readiness to commence extradition proceedings against Mr. Mpeirwe," Mao wrote.
"The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to request you to issue a warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Michael Katungi Mpeirwe pursuant to Section 8(2) of the Extradition Act, Cap. 124, to pave way for his surrender to the United States of America."
The correspondence demonstrates that several Executive institutions had completed their review of the American request before the matter reached court.
However, the documents also show that the judicial process remained a necessary step before any extradition could take place.
Following the minister's request, the DPP formally applied to the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court for the issuance of an arrest warrant under Sections 8 and 9 of the Extradition Act.
Katungi later appeared before court after his arrest and opposed the proceedings.
His lawyers argued that the prosecution had not yet filed the substantive extradition application required under Uganda's extradition laws and sought his release on bail.
The court declined to release him at that stage, holding that the extradition process was still underway and remanded him to Luzira Prison.
The prosecution was directed to file the formal extradition application by July 1, while the defence was ordered to respond before the matter returns for hearing on July 10.
Katungi is wanted by the United States to stand trial before the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on allegations of narcotics trafficking, firearms offences and conspiracy to provide material support to the Mexican drug cartel known as the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación.
He denies the allegations and is contesting his extradition.
The newly obtained correspondence provides the clearest picture yet of how Uganda's extradition machinery operated behind the scenes before the case entered the public domain through court proceedings.
While the Executive had already determined that Uganda could render the requested assistance under both the Extradition Act and international treaty obligations, the ultimate question of whether Katungi should be surrendered to the United States remains before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court, whose hearing is scheduled to continue later this month.