Police in Iganga have dismantled a counterfeit dollar racket operating in Namungalwe Town Council, arresting four suspects in an intelligence-led operation on Thursday, 6th November, 2025.
The suspects have been identified as; Juma Isabirye, alias Magezi aged 30, businessman from Buwenge Town Council, Jinja district, Shafik Bamwitire aged 22, businessman from Buwenge Town Council, Jinja district, Michael Badagawa, 24, a chapati seller from Kawete village, Namungalwe Town Council, Iganga district and Isaac Augustus Nyende, 30, a resident of Nsinze, Namungalwe Town Council, Iganga district.
Speaking to the media on 8th November, 2025, the Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson, ASP Michael Kasadha, said that the operation followed credible intelligence about criminal activities involving counterfeit dollar issuance and aggravated robbery of cash.
ASP Kasadha further revealed that the suspects often lure victims from as far as the Central Region with promises of dollar exchange deals.
Initially, the victims are given genuine dollars to gain their trust, convincing them to hand over large sums of cash, only to be violently confronted and robbed.
“These criminal acts have been recurring at Kawete Trading Center and Bulumwagi Village in Iganga, and authorities are committed to doing everything possible to fight these gang-related crimes,” ASP Kasadha explained.
Police revealed several recent cases highlighting the scale of the scam as follows;
On 27th October 2025, Christopher Nathan Muyingo, 45, of Bunga Church Zone, Kampala, was robbed of UGX 6,000,000 at Kawete, Namungalwe Town Council.
The following day, on 28th October 2025, Bashir Ssemakula, 46, from Kiboba Village, Mukono District, was robbed of UGX 6,900,000 at Kawete.
Later that same week, on 29th October 2025, Ben Okurut, 30, a businessman from Igaitani Village, Namayemba Town Council, was robbed of UGX 18,000,000 in Bulumwagi Sub County.
ASP Kasadha said the incidents have caused widespread public concern, particularly for individuals traveling long distances who fall victim to the scheme. During the operation, an iPad belonging to one of the victims was recovered and displayed as evidence.
“The police hunt for additional culprits is ongoing. We urge the public to exercise caution and avoid falling victim to counterfeit currency scams, especially those involving fake US dollars,” he cautioned.
The Iganga police unit said further investigations are underway to ensure all suspects involved are arrested and prosecuted.
