Police in Iganga have arrested four suspects for allegedly using fake TikTok and WhatsApp accounts impersonating the first daughter.
The arrests follow concerns raised by Mrs Museveni Karugire about individuals using her name and image to defraud people seeking financial help.
Preliminary reports indicate that the suspects were asking victims to pay registration and processing fees in exchange for promised assistance.
The suspects were identified as Isabirye Ashraf, Mulondo Rahman, Kakaire Zubair, and Egesa Sharif.
According to police, the four were tracked and arrested using cybercrime investigation methods.
Addressing the media at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday, February 9th, 2025, Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke said the suspects were found in possession of several SIM cards and mobile phones believed to have been used in the scam.
“We followed them using our cyber capabilities and found them with multiple SIM cards and phone sets, which we suspect were being used to defraud members of the public,” ACP Rusoke said.
The suspects will be arraigned in court and charged with cyber fraud and impersonation-related offences.
ACP Rusoke warned the public about the growing number of online scams, especially those involving fake offers of financial support and visa processing services.
“Never pay registration or processing fees through social media. These platforms are loose and easily exploited by scammers,” he said.
He urged members of the public to verify any offers made online before sending money and to be cautious of requests for down payments.
“We encourage people to do due diligence and proper verification before responding to offers on social media. Many people have been defrauded, especially in cases related to visa applications,” he added.
Authorities called on the public to report fake accounts and suspicious online activity to the authorities for investigation.
