The Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) has strongly refuted claims circulating on media implicating a female foreigner collecting discarded plastics around Kampala as an American spy.

This stems from an article published by New Vision on its website and Facebook page on August 10, 2025, in a story titled, Police arrest, detain American lady who picked bottles in Kampala.

KMP Deputy Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire firmly denied making statements linking Mary Grace Miller, to an espionage-related racket.

“I did not make such a statement to the reporter. I have a WhatsApp conversation which confirms that no such comment was given,” Owoyesigyire said.

In his narration, Owoyesigyire pointed to an instance of misinformation different from the facts available about the matter at hand.

“If you look at the things, I sent the reporter, none of the items I sent by WhatsApp appeared in the story. Only the narrative quoting me to have confirmed that she was a spy. This is wrong,” he stated.

Owoyesigyire stressed that the ongoing investigation has no connection whatsoever to espionage, contrary to the claims made by New Vision.

The police inquiry was triggered by a viral TikTok video earlier this month showing a white woman collecting plastic bottles in Kampala. The video included claims that she had been scammed and was now surviving by collecting plastics.

Responding to the viral video, Police located and arrested the woman, who was identified as Mary Grace Miller, a 64-year-old American citizen and teacher by profession.

Miller arrived in Uganda in September 2022 on a visitor visa that expired in December. She told police she stayed for a spiritual journey and regularly attended church. Though a viral video claimed she was scammed, she said she started with 20 million UGX but used it all up. Now, she survives by selling plastic bottles and begging, which made locals suspicious and led some to think she might be a spy.

“We decided to contact immigration because the only wrong thing she had done was overstaying her visit in Uganda. That was the only wrong thing she had done,” Owoyesigyire explained.

The police subsequently referred the matter to the immigration office and the American Embassy.

“Both parties were contacted, and I want to confirm that she has been handed over to the American Embassy,” Owoyesigyire stated.

The police have appealed to New Vision to retract the false espionage claims, emphasizing that the misinformation not only misrepresents the facts but also unfairly tarnishes the reputation of Mary Grace Miller by wrongly branding her as a spy.