The Golden Deception: Details Of How Museveni`s Blue-eyed Boy Vincent Kedi Is Accused of Coordinating Uganda’s Largest Illicit Mining Operation

KAMPALA, Uganda: Following our semi-revealing story on July 7th, 2024, titled; “Meet Engineer Kedi Vincent: The Public Servant-Turned Private Tycoon Whose Exploits in Uganda’s Mining Sector Are Turning Cancerous to Government,” the man at the centre of the storm, Eng. Kedi Vincent, came knocking on our door the very next day.

The Assistant Commissioner at the Entebbe-based Department of Geological Survey and Mines (DGSM) paced into our offices in Kisaasi, determined to clear the air about the allegations spinning around him. However, despite his composed demeanour and soft-spoken reassurances, Kedi fell short of addressing his purported involvement in the dubious activities of Evergrande Resources Company Ltd.

Eng. Kedi Vincent, the spectacled and composed figure hailing from the East, was eager to distance himself from the serious accusations. “I don’t know much about that company. But if it’s engaged in tax evasion as alleged, that’s the work of URA (Uganda Revenue Authority) to find out and take action,” he reasoned. Despite his claims of ignorance, we felt compelled to dive deeper into the intricate web of allegations that paint him as a clandestine godfather of illegal mining activities.

The Story

In October 2022, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni signed the Mining and Minerals Bill of 2022 into law, aiming to enhance the mining sector’s contribution to national revenue. This new legislation sought to increase local participation and attract foreign investment in the sub-sector. Often referred to as Museveni’s blue-eyed boy, Kedi played a significant role in drafting this bill. Yet, in a twist of mockery, he stands accused of subverting the very law he helped create.

Kedi is consistently accused of actively turning into a clandestine God father to people in illegal mining-cases in the country. On top of that, he is said to directly and, or unfairly compete with investors for lucrative mining areas, supposedly using proxies to front his personal interests. An interesting case in point is that of the earlier mentioned Evergrande Resources Company Ltd, the owners of EL00200 which is also, the biggest gold mining operator in the country at the moment.

Kedi, using his position as the licensing officer, in may 2021, reportedly denied chance to local Amudat miners who had created a mining zone as a source of livelihood. Amudat District is one of the Local Governments located in the north. After the local population had done all the discoveries – for the gold rich zone, Kedi, allegedly without any remorse granted this mining area to Evergrande Resources Co. Ltd, leaving hundreds of local artisanal miners in tears.

With the lucrative gold areas already identified by the artisanal miners, this company immediately obtained an exploration license. Upon this development, illegal gold mining commenced, supposedly under the clandestine protection and advice of Kedi. A large underground mining operation worth billion was set up in this license with the digging of huge underground tunnels that span kilometres and can accommodate several mining trucks. Following this posture, untaxed gold began flowing out of the country. And unknown to many in the country, the gold mining operations at this site dwarf those coming up in Busia.

A truck snaking through the tunnel in Amudat

To this end, several issues come to the attention of any Uganda-at-heart. One would wonder how a company with such a large-scale mining operation can be mining and exporting gold without a Mining Lease. Under the new mining law, illegal mining attracts a penalty of UGX1Bn. It is further interesting how a tunnel stretching over a kilometre can go unnoticed for several years?

Inspectors, some of whom we interacted with for purposes of piecing up this story, estimate that Evergrande could be producing up to 25kgs of gold per week! The Investigator has further learnt that a strong but invisible force is using immense powers to provide a cover-up to the illicit gold mining operations. And this, upon creating fear among all the mining department inspectors who are mandated to oversee, monitor and report any illegal activities in the sector.

Despite the large-scale operations, questions abound. How can such an extensive mining operation continue without a Mining Lease? How have tunnels spanning kilometres gone unnoticed for years? The Investigator has uncovered evidence suggesting a powerful, invisible force is shielding these illegal activities, instilling fear among the inspectors.

Indeed, our attempts to interview staff under Kedi’s command were met with silence, further fuelling suspicions. The fundamental question remains; how does Evergrande-mined gold leave the country undetected? Kedi’s reported actions of shielding illegal mining extend beyond Amudat to other parts of Uganda, hence depriving the government of significant revenue while enriching a select few.

If proven positively, this vice robs government of huge sums of revenue while individuals enrich themselves and their associates. Miners we talked to got an impression that only those with deep pockets and close association to the departmental head are able to get there desired mining areas and also export unrefined minerals.

The latest dossier to a security and intelligence agency alleges that in an effort to hide his interests in the illegal mining ventures of Evergrande Resources, smart Kedi supposedly appointed a one Okello Rogers as his proxy to oversee the lucrative operation. Our search unveiled how this Okello holds 51% of the shares in trust for the man from the East, while a one Lu Yang, a Chinese national holds 39 % shares.

A few calls to some Amudat leaders confirmed that Eng. Kedi is on several occasions seen supervising the works in the illegal gold mining misfit. “The local miners who were deprived of their source of livelihood watch him drive by, with tears rolling down their cheeks,” said one of the leaders, emotionally. This stance, them having done all the hard donkey work in discovering the gold mining areas but for the Chinese investors to take over!

Gold Export

President Museveni, in a bid to boost local economy, slapped a ban on unrefined Gold. However, using his deep knowledge and position, Kedi supposedly creates different ways to ensure the precious metal exists the country undetected. We unearthed with greater shock, that Evergrande prepares export of `gold concentrates` under the guise of soil samples! For starters, a quick google search describes `gold concentrates` as “an intermediate material produced from the processing of gold [rock] to achieve a higher concentration, but that still requires further intermediate processing to produce Doré. A gold concentrate would ordinarily be transported to a nearby gold smelter for the creation of Doré.”

“Tons of unprocessed high grade iron gold concentrates are being exported thus further showing how among many ways, Evergrande has abused the law with impunity, causing huge financial losses to this country,” said an expert in the area, adding; “gold produced in this country has the capacity to transform the economy. However, actions of people like Kedi, the presumed regulator betray this effort.”

It is sad to note that this illegal spin game is not limited to Evergrande! Several Chinese companies are reportedly involved in similar schemes, stealthily exporting unprocessed minerals and depriving the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) of much-needed revenue. Our investigation is ongoing, with a focus on the relationship between Evergrande Resources Co. Ltd and Reliable Refinery Co. Ltd, which was implicated in exporting hundreds of kilograms of gold last year.

State Investigations

As reported in our earlier story, the state noted with concern the unclear operations of Evergrande and launched an investigation into the activities of the same. We understand how several senior and junior officers have so far, reportedly been summoned by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), including the man himself, Kedi.

Whereas details of this investigation can wait for another day, we also understand of a parallel investigation, again from the same corridors of power at `Plot One`. However, Kedi being the licensing officer, he supposedly still plays his cards well, especially with individuals involved, to have the story end in his favour.

Lest We Forget…

In a move to distract investigators, Evergrande applied for a mining license in February 2024 (Tn/mml /04296). While illegal gold mining is often associated with local populations seeking basic livelihoods, the industrial-scale operations of Evergrande highlight a more sinister conspiracy to defraud the government, thanks to the cover-up by those who are supposed to swing the whip. Such conspiracy to defraud government of revenue is what has kept Uganda`s economy swaying and limping in zig-zag style. Watch the space…

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Stanley Ndawula: Stanley Ndawula is a two and a half decades’ seasoned investigative journalist with a knack for serious crimes investigations and reporting. He’s the Founding Editorial Director and CEO at The Investigator Publications (U) Limited