Ugandan diplomats under investigation for alleged illegal casino in Dubai consulate

Uganda’s External Security Organization (ESO) has launched an investigation into a scandal involving Ugandan diplomats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accused of operating an illegal casino within the Ugandan Consulate in Dubai. The scandal surfaced after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni reportedly discovered the illicit activities and ordered an immediate halt to the operation.

The situation has drawn significant criticism, particularly from Thomas Tayebwa, Uganda's Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Tayebwa has condemned the actions of the diplomats, calling it a violation of domestic, UAE, and international laws. He expressed concern that the incident could strain Uganda’s diplomatic relations with the UAE, potentially impacting the 70,000 Ugandans living and working in the Emirates.

The scandal is believed to have begun when a shipment of gambling machines was sent from Russia to Dubai under diplomatic cover. The shipment was initially intercepted by customs officials in Moscow due to suspicious labeling. The inventory reportedly included items like dining tables, bar chairs, and souvenirs, with no mention of the gambling machines.

However, the shipment was cleared after Uganda's ambassador to Russia, Mozes Kizige, assured customs officials that the items were intended for official use under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The gambling equipment arrived in Dubai on October 20, 2023, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Moscow. It was supposed to be stored at the consulate for three months before being transferred to Uganda for use in a hotel owned by a government official.

However, the machines remained in the consulate for at least six months, where they were operated by two Ugandan nationals assigned as special envoys with diplomatic credentials.

The illegal operation was brought to an end after President Museveni reportedly became aware of the casino's existence and ordered the removal of the gambling machines.