Two Chinese nationals accused of using illegal electronic devices to cheat a Kampala casino out of Shs63 million have been remanded to prison after appearing before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Liu Min, 36, and Li Wenshuang, 40, are facing charges of cheating and forging tickets under the Penal Code Act and the Lotteries and Gaming Act, respectively.
The duo appeared before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe on Thursday, but the charges could not be read to them due to a language barrier. The prosecution requested an adjournment to secure a Chinese interpreter after the suspects indicated they could only communicate effectively in Chinese.
Chief State Attorney Joan Keko informed the court that while investigations into the matter were fully complete, neither the accused had legal representation nor was the complainant present in court. Citing constitutional requirements, Ms Keko emphasized that proceedings must be conducted in a language understood by the suspects before pleas can be formally taken.
During the session, the prosecution urged the court to prioritize the case, highlighting a concerning pattern of foreign nationals entering the country on tourist visas only to engage in criminal activities.
Ms Keko warned that such actions threaten Uganda’s business environment and could severely undermine investor confidence, noting that another Chinese national had appeared before the same court just two days earlier over the alleged theft of Shs210 million. She expressed concern that individuals entering under the guise of tourism to steal from fellow Chinese investors risk driving capital away from the nation.
According to court records, the alleged offenses took place on October 25, 2026, at Pujing Casino, located within the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. Prosecution details indicate that the suspects purchased casino chips worth Shs10 million each and staked a total of Shs20 million on a baccarat game. They subsequently won Shs63.5 million through alleged fraudulent tricks involving the gaming equipment.
Payment of the winnings was halted after the casino’s surveillance team spotted suspicious activity and alerted the cashiers. A subsequent security search led to the recovery and police seizure of four Pujing Casino cards, two playing cards from Meline Casino, and two electronic devices suspected of being capable of manipulating the gaming system. In addition to cheating charges, the two face counts of forging gaming tickets with intent to defraud under Section 66 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act.
Magistrate Neumbe remanded both suspects until November 6, 2026, when they are scheduled to return to court for plea taking and the start of the hearing.