Kampala, Uganda: Security agencies have arrested four suspected cyber fraudsters accused of impersonating the First Daughter, Natasha Karugire, on social media platforms to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The arrests followed a joint intelligence-led operation involving the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT), the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and Crime Intelligence, targeting organised cybercrime networks exploiting digital platforms.
Police said the suspects created fake TikTok and WhatsApp accounts bearing Karugire’s name and image, through which they solicited money from victims under the pretext of offering financial assistance and other favours.
Addressing journalists on Monday, police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma identified the suspects as Allan Isabirye, Rahman Mulondo, Zubair Kakaire and Sharif Egesa.
“The four suspects were arrested for impersonating Natasha Karugire, the First Daughter of H.E. the President, on social media platforms,” Kituuma said. “They will soon be arraigned in court to answer charges of cyber fraud and impersonation under the Computer Misuse Act and the Penal Code.”
He said investigations were launched after Karugire lodged a formal complaint at CID headquarters, alerting police to fraudulent online accounts operating in her name.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects targeted individuals seeking financial assistance, demanding money disguised as registration and processing fees.
“We tracked them using our cyber capabilities and recovered multiple mobile phones and SIM cards believed to have been used to execute the scams,” Kituuma said.
Police warned the public against engaging with services advertised on social media, particularly those linked to visas, passports and national identity documents.
“Never pay registration or processing fees through social media. It is a loose platform and very easy for fraudsters to trap unsuspecting Ugandans. Always verify information before acting,” Kituuma cautioned.
Uganda has recorded a sharp rise in cyber-related crimes in recent years. According to the Police Annual Crime Report 2024, a total of 474 cybercrime cases were reported in 2024, up from 245 cases in 2023, representing a 93.5 percent increase.
The report further shows that cybercrime resulted in financial losses of Shs72 billion in 2024, with only Shs420 million recovered.
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