By Spy Uganda
Police have arrested seven more suspects in Iganga District over an alleged cyber fraud scheme in which criminals impersonated First Daughter Natasha Museveni Karugire on social media to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.
The arrests were made during an intelligence-led operation conducted on July 2, 2026, in Nandekula A Village, Bulubandi Parish, Nakigo Sub-county, by a joint team of the Uganda Police Force and Defence Intelligence and Security.
According to Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke, the suspects are part of a growing network that creates fake TikTok and WhatsApp accounts using the identities and photographs of prominent individuals, particularly Karugire, to lure victims with false promises of financial assistance.
The suspects arrested are Mugudya Mustafa (17), Maganda Murishidi (18), Waiswa Muhammad (21), Kaima Jamiru (17), Mulawa Shafick (17), and Ngobi Sabath (15). Police said investigations are continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected fraud network.
During the operation, security officers recovered nine mobile phones, which investigators say contained multiple fake social media accounts, including profiles impersonating Natasha Karugire and pages operating under names such as “Youth Development Application Funds.”
Police say the fraudsters targeted vulnerable people seeking financial assistance by informing them they had qualified for funding before demanding “registration fees” or “processing charges” to facilitate payment. Victims would send the money but never receive the promised support.
The latest arrests come five months after police arrested four suspects in Iganga Municipality over a nearly identical scam.
Those arrested in the February operation were identified as Isabirye Ashiraf, Mulondo Rahman, Kakaire Zubair, and Egesa Sharif. Police recovered several mobile phones and SIM cards believed to have been used in defrauding victims.
Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, Rusoke said the repeated arrests point to an emerging pattern of cybercrime in the district.
“In February we arrested four cyber fraudsters who were impersonating First Daughter Natasha Karugire. They were soliciting money, claiming Natasha was providing financial support to people but that beneficiaries first needed to pay registration fees,” Rusoke said.
“Now, this time we have arrested seven more running the same fraud using the same method.”
He noted that Iganga is increasingly becoming a hotspot for cyber fraud, particularly scams involving the impersonation of prominent public figures.
“We noticed that Iganga is becoming a hotspot and we shall find a solution to this,” Rusoke added.
Police warned the public against sending money to anyone claiming to offer financial assistance through social media, emphasizing that genuine government or private assistance programmes do not require beneficiaries to pay upfront fees.
“No one trying to give you financial support will ask you for money first. Be vigilant and avoid these groups,” Rusoke cautioned.
The latest operation follows complaints previously lodged by Natasha Karugire after fraudsters created fake TikTok and WhatsApp accounts using her name and photographs to deceive the public.
Karugire has repeatedly distanced herself from the fraudulent accounts, stressing that she has never asked anyone to pay money in exchange for financial assistance. She has urged members of the public to follow only her verified TikTok account, @Natashakarugire83, and ignore all other accounts purporting to represent her.
Police said investigations remain ongoing as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the criminal network and urged anyone who encounters suspicious online accounts or impersonation schemes to report them to the nearest police station immediately.
