Ugandan businessman and socialite Christian Asiimwe, popularly known as Don Chris, has been remanded to Luzira Prison after denying 127 charges linked to an alleged overseas job recruitment scam involving more than Shs725 million.
Mr Asiimwe, a director of Sky Pins Tours and Travel Company, appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Nicholas Aisu at the City Hall Court in Kampala.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded until 21 September 2026, when the prosecution is expected to begin presenting its case.
State prosecutors Benjamin Amanya, Mercy Yamangusho and Miriam Akite told the court that investigations had been completed.
“Investigations in the matter are complete,” the prosecution told the court.
Mr Asiimwe appeared without legal representation and faced seven separate charge sheets containing allegations of obtaining money by false pretences.
Several people who claim to have lost money through the alleged recruitment scheme were present in the packed courtroom as the charges were read.
Overseas jobs allegedly promised
Prosecutors allege that between 2023 and 2025, Mr Asiimwe and other suspects who remain at large operated from the offices of Sky Pins Tours and Travel in Ntinda, Nakawa Division.
They are accused of receiving money from job seekers after allegedly promising to secure employment opportunities abroad.
The destinations allegedly offered included Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Qatar and the United States.
According to the prosecution, individual complainants paid between Shs1 million and Shs10 million, depending on the country in which they were promised employment.
In one of the alleged transactions, a complainant is said to have paid Shs10 million for a promised job in Canada, while another allegedly paid Shs9.2 million for a similar opportunity.
Another complainant allegedly paid Shs7.2 million for employment said to have been available in Luxembourg.
Prosecutors put the combined amount involved in 126 financial counts at about Shs725.68 million.
The figure follows the correction of what was described as an apparent error on one of the charge sheets, where an amount numerically recorded as Shs7.7 billion was written in words as Shs7.7 million.
More than 500 alleged victims
Police arrested Mr Asiimwe on 27 August 2026 at an entertainment venue in Zana, Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality.
Detectives have previously said that more than 500 people claiming to have been affected by the alleged recruitment operation have recorded statements with police.
The number of people who have approached investigators is higher than the number currently represented in the charges before the court.
Mr Asiimwe faces charges under Section 285 of Uganda’s Penal Code Act relating to obtaining money by false pretences.
The allegations against him have not been proven, and he remains presumed innocent unless convicted by a court.
He is expected to return to court on 21 September, when the hearing is scheduled to begin.
