JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Ugandan billionaire and industrialist Katsha Debank has shipped a 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan valued at approximately $1 million from South Africa to Uganda, joining a growing wave of wealthy Ugandans repatriating assets amid escalating xenophobic tensions in the region.

The luxury SUV's arrival in Uganda comes as the country completes the first phase of a voluntary evacuation program that successfully repatriated 1,102 Ugandan citizens from South Africa following anti-immigrant protests and xenophobic violence in July 2026. Returnees have since been placed in a government-led rehabilitation program.

Debank, a prominent Ugandan businessman based in Johannesburg, confirmed the shipment as part of broader efforts to relocate assets and investments back to his home country. The move reflects growing unease among the Ugandan diaspora community in South Africa, where recent attacks on foreign nationals have prompted many to reconsider their presence in the region.

A Self-Made Success Story

Debank, born Shafique Katumba, is the founder and CEO of the Katsha Group, a multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Sandton, South Africa. The group's diverse portfolio spans technology, education, manufacturing, trading, and industrial services, with Ugandan subsidiaries including Motortrader.co.ug—the nation's largest automotive marketplace—WorldHost, DomainsUG, and Katsha International Colleges.

The billionaire's journey from humble beginnings in Bbunga-Kawuku, Uganda, to international prominence is a testament to resilience and entrepreneurial vision. After his mother lost her job and declared bankruptcy following a gold fraud scheme, Debank relocated to South Africa at age 19, where he worked alongside his uncle before securing an opportunity to study IT and Space Engineering in Russia.

His breakthrough came when Vodafone South Africa (now Vodacom) acquired his startup, Katsche Technologies, for $3 million—a validation that would serve as the foundation for his expanding empire.

Luxury Vehicle Joins Notable Collection

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan shipment is the latest addition to Debank's extensive luxury vehicle collection, which reportedly includes Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, McLarens, Hummers, Range Rovers, and Ferraris. The businessman frequently showcases high-end vehicles, including a gold Bentley and customized Hummer SUVs, across both South Africa and Uganda.

The shipment follows recent scrutiny of luxury vehicle imports into Uganda. In May 2026, reports surfaced that former Parliamentary Speaker Anita Among acquired a 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan valued at approximately $440,000 (Shs 3.4 billion), which she initially claimed was a birthday gift flown in from Britain. The vehicle was subsequently seized by security forces during a corruption and money laundering probe.

Investment Strategy and Future Plans

Debank's decision to transfer assets to Uganda aligns with his broader strategy of expanding the Katsha Group's operations into his homeland. The group already owns a multi-million Rand building in Melrose Arch, South Africa, and has made significant investments in industrial manufacturing, with machinery from China currently in transit to Uganda.

"My current objective is to expand our operations into Uganda," Debank has stated, noting that several initiatives are already underway. "Many of these projects are currently being developed discreetly. When the time is right, I look forward to unveiling them to the people of Uganda."

In addition to his automotive and real estate interests, Debank's technological expertise includes developing software for computerizing supermarket sales, further demonstrating the breadth of his business acumen.

Regional Context

The repatriation of assets by wealthy Ugandans comes against a backdrop of persistent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which have prompted several African nations to organize evacuations of their citizens. The Ugandan government's rehabilitation program for returnees represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of citizens displaced by the violence.

MotorTrader Ug continues to monitor developments in the automotive sector and luxury vehicle imports into Uganda.

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