By Karim Were
British businessman David Greenhalgh, a figure once known in Uganda’s investment and real estate circles, has been convicted in the United Kingdom for his role in a sophisticated international arms trafficking operation that sought to supply military equipment to conflict zones and sanctioned countries.
Greenhalgh, 68, was found guilty by Southwark Crown Court in London on eight counts of illegal arms trafficking under the Export Control Order 2008. The verdict was delivered on June 11, 2026, following a trial that commenced on April 7.
The court also convicted Greek national Christos Farmakis, 48, who was tried in absentia and found guilty on an additional related charge.
Prosecutors revealed that between 2009 and 2016, the pair operated a clandestine arms brokerage network that sourced military hardware from former Soviet and Eastern European states. Investigators said the operation targeted buyers in volatile and embargoed regions, including Libya, South Sudan, Sudan, Iraq and Iran.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that the network negotiated deals involving a wide range of military equipment, including combat helicopters, battle tanks, surface-to-air missile systems, anti-tank weapons, fighter aircraft, rocket-propelled grenades, and tens of thousands of AK-47 rifles along with millions of rounds of ammunition.
The case has been described as one of the most significant arms trafficking prosecutions pursued under the UK’s export control laws. Authorities argued that the defendants attempted to circumvent strict international regulations designed to prevent weapons from reaching conflict zones and sanctioned actors.
In delivering its judgment, the court stressed the importance of enforcing export controls and safeguarding national security. The ruling underscored the UK’s commitment to preventing illicit arms transfers and holding accountable those involved in the global weapons trade.
Greenhalgh was previously known in Uganda through his business dealings and his connection to the high-profile Bad Black embezzlement case more than a decade ago. However, the latest conviction marks a dramatic turn in a case that places him at the center of an international arms trafficking scheme spanning several continents.
