Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded three people for impersonating businessman and philanthropist Dr Hamis Kiggundu in an online fraud scheme that duped several Ugandans through social media.
The suspects, Master Don Sharif, 24, and two minors aged 16 and 17, appeared before the Court on Monday, 6th October 2025, on charges of obtaining money by false pretence and impersonation.
Prosecution alleges that the group created fake TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp accounts, posing as Dr Kiggundu and representatives of the Ham Group of Companies.
Through these accounts, they allegedly solicited money from victims under the guise of offering jobs, business loans, and scholarships, defrauding them of millions of shillings.
Security sources identified all three suspects as residents of Iganga District in eastern Uganda, an area security agency say has seen a surge in cybercrime activity.
Their arrest followed a coordinated operation by the Police Cyber Crime Unit, Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) after multiple complaints were lodged by victims and the Ham Group.
Ham Group Public Relations Officer Karim Sserugo cautioned the public against engaging with individuals claiming to represent the company online.
“Dr Hamis Kiggundu and the Ham Group do not operate any online loan, bursary, or youth empowerment initiatives. Anyone asking for money in his name is a scammer. Always confirm details through our official channels,” Sserugo said.
Police have since warned that online impersonation and cyber fraud are becoming increasingly common, with several cases this year involving individuals using the identities of prominent figures to defraud the public.
This is the sixth case in 2025 in which suspects have been charged with impersonating Dr Kiggundu, underscoring growing concern over the abuse of social media platforms for criminal activity.
The trio remains in custody until October 20, 2025, as investigations continue.
