By Ben Musanje
The Uganda Police Force has identified Iganga Municipality as an emerging hotspot for cyber fraudsters impersonating President Yoweri Museveni’s daughter, Natasha Museveni Karugire, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks targeting unsuspecting members of the public through fake financial assistance schemes.
Addressing journalists during a press conference at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday, Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke said law enforcement agencies, working alongside other security agencies, had arrested another group of suspects linked to online scams involving the impersonation of Natasha Museveni Karugire.
Rusoke explained that the latest arrests followed investigations into a cyber-fraud syndicate that allegedly created fake online platforms and social media profiles purporting to represent Natasha Museveni Karugire. He said the suspects allegedly deceived victims into paying registration and processing fees with promises of receiving financial assistance.
According to Rusoke, this was not the first operation targeting such fraudsters. He recalled that on February 9, police arrested four suspects from Iganga Municipality who were accused of operating a similar scam.
The suspects arrested during the earlier operation in February 2026 were identified as Ashraf Isabirye, Rahman Mulondo, Zubair Kakaire and Sharif Egesa, most of whom were between 18 and 20 years old.
Police investigations established that the group had been soliciting money from members of the public by falsely claiming that Natasha Museveni Karugire was providing financial support to Ugandans but that beneficiaries first had to pay registration and processing charges before receiving the assistance.
Rusoke said it had taken only a few months before another group using similar methods emerged, prompting a fresh police operation.
The latest arrests resulted in seven suspects being taken into custody. They were identified as Mustafa Mugudya, 17; Murishidi Maganda, 18; Muhammad Waiswa, 21; Jamiru Kaima, 17; Shafic Mulawa, 17; and Sabath Ngobi, 15, among others.
Police also recovered nine mobile phones believed to have been used to coordinate the fraudulent activities. The devices have been retained as exhibits as investigations continue.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were operating under the guise of youth development funding programmes. Rusoke said they allegedly profiled potential victims before impersonating Natasha Museveni Karugire to convince them to send money in anticipation of receiving financial support.
He noted that the repeated arrests pointed to a recurring pattern of cyber fraud originating from Iganga Municipality, which he described as increasingly becoming a hotspot for such criminal activities. He said the trend required both intensified public sensitization campaigns and stronger law enforcement interventions to dismantle the networks before they expanded further.
Rusoke added that although the group had remained persistent, police, working together with other security agencies, would continue taking all necessary measures to ensure those responsible were identified, arrested and prosecuted.
He also urged members of the public to be more vigilant when approached with offers of financial assistance that require upfront payments. Rusoke stressed that genuine charitable or government assistance programmes do not ask beneficiaries to pay registration or processing fees before receiving support.
The Police spokesperson expressed concern that despite several community policing engagements conducted in Iganga to educate residents about cyber fraud, many people continued to fall victim to the scams. He said the repeated success of the fraudsters depended largely on members of the public ignoring previous warnings and failing to verify suspicious requests for money.
Rusoke encouraged the public to report suspicious online accounts, messages and individuals claiming to represent prominent public figures or government programmes in exchange for money, saying early reporting would enable police to respond more effectively.
He further revealed that police had handled numerous complaints linked to the impersonation schemes and would continue publishing information about arrested suspects through official police communication platforms as part of ongoing public awareness efforts.
The latest arrests underscore the growing challenge posed by cyber-enabled fraud in Uganda, where criminal groups are increasingly exploiting the identities of prominent individuals to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims seeking financial assistance. Police say they remain committed to strengthening investigations, disrupting cybercrime networks and protecting the public from online fraud. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
