Where Did Mike Ezra Go? The Rise, Fall, and Vanishing of Uganda’s Flashiest Tycoon

For years, Mike Ezra was the name on everyone’s lips in Kampala. The flamboyant businessman—famed for his tailored suits, diamond watches, and audacious pledges to buy English Premier League clubs—was once the very definition of excess.

But behind the glittering façade lay a storm of debt, bounced cheques, and unanswered questions. By the time the law came knocking, Ezra had already disappeared.

It all began to unravel in late 2010. Ugandan police, armed with court orders, launched a manhunt after Ezra allegedly issued two cheques worth nearly Shs 800 million to businessman Frank Katusiime that bounced like rubber balls.

Investigators accused him of fraud and financial misconduct, while the Uganda Revenue Authority moved to freeze his accounts over tax arrears.

Detectives stormed his lavish offices on Kyadondo Road in Kampala, only to find an empty swivel chair.

Ezra, tipped off about the raid, had melted into the shadows. As days turned into weeks, police declared him a wanted man.

He denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as “a hoax” and blaming the frozen accounts for the unpaid debts. But his once-booming public appearances ceased overnight.

Then, in February 2011, the trail picked up again—across the border.

Kenyan police arrested Ezra in Nairobi on fraud-related charges, detaining him at the Gigiri Police Station before producing him in court.

Footage from the time shows a subdued figure, a far cry from the charismatic mogul who once promised to bankroll Uganda’s national sports teams and buy Leeds United Football Club.

After that arrest, Ezra’s story faded as quickly as it had flared. Court cases dragged on, whispers of hidden millions and foreign safe houses swirled, but nothing concrete emerged.

Socialites like Brian White would later imitate Ezra’s cash-splashing lifestyle, yet none matched the mystery of the original.

Today, more than a decade later, the question still lingers: where did Mike Ezra go? Was he a misunderstood entrepreneur crushed by taxes and bad timing, or a master illusionist who outwitted two countries’ law enforcement?

The man who once promised to put Uganda on the global financial map remains an enigma—a reminder that in Kampala’s high-stakes world of money and showmanship, disappearance can be the ultimate performance.