Magnetic results for the U ( Ge _1-x Ni _x)₂ series of compounds with x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 are reported. For x≤0.2 the system is ferromagnetic with T_c close to 52 K. For the remaining samples we found a spin-glass ground state with T_f around 30 K. The specific heat for the x=0.3 sample present an anomaly at 50 K, which does not seems to be of magnetic origin. We discuss the results in terms of the possible formation of the compound U ₂ NiGe ₃. © 2003 American Institute of Physics.