Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has signed an order authorising the extradition of former Uganda People’s Defence Forces officer and diplomat Michael Katungi Mpeirwe to the United States to face serious drug trafficking and arms-related charges.

In a warrant of surrender dated 1 September 2026, Mao directed the Commissioner General of Prisons to release Katungi into the custody of representatives authorised by the United States Government for transfer to Virginia, where he is to stand trial.

“Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, presently in lawful custody in Uganda, shall be surrendered to the Government of the United States of America,” the minister ordered. He further directed that Katungi be conveyed to the US “to stand trial in respect of the specific offences for which his extradition was requested and authorised.”

Katungi is wanted before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on three counts. These include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing or intending that it would be unlawfully imported into the United States; conspiracy to possess firearms, including a machine gun and a destructive device, in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime; and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation.

US prosecutors allege that Katungi participated in a transnational conspiracy linked to Mexico’s Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). The indictment names him alongside Bulgarian national Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, Kenyan national Elisha Odhiambo Asumo and Tanzanian national Subiro Osmund Mwapinga. The other three suspects have already been transferred to US custody from Spain, Morocco and Ghana respectively.

Katungi, a former African Union policy adviser and one-time deputy head of Uganda’s diplomatic mission in Nigeria, was arrested in Kampala on 27 June 2026 following an extradition request from the United States. He was remanded to Luzira Prison as proceedings unfolded at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court.

On 28 August 2026, Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa committed Katungi to prison pending the minister’s decision after rejecting several objections raised by the defence, including claims of diplomatic immunity. The magistrate ruled that the extradition request met the requirements of Uganda’s Extradition Act.

The minister’s order now clears the final legal step for Katungi’s surrender. Ugandan authorities have been directed to facilitate the lawful transfer in accordance with the Extradition Act and applicable international arrangements.

Katungi has consistently opposed the extradition. The case marks one of the highest-profile instances of a Ugandan national facing surrender to the United States over alleged involvement in international narcotics and arms trafficking networks.