Four Arrested In Iganga Over Allegations Of Impersonating First Daughter

Uganda Police have arrested four suspects in Iganga District over allegations of impersonating Natasha Karugire, the daughter of President Yoweri Museveni, on social media.

The arrests come weeks after Natasha Karugire publicly raised alarm about fake accounts using her name and photos to scam unsuspecting members of the public.

In January, Natasha warned her followers about fraudsters asking for money in exchange for fake promises of help.

“I have been informed that these fake accounts using my name and my pictures ask the public for money in exchange for help. I will never do this for any reason. Please do not encourage these fraudsters and criminals by sending them money,” she wrote.

She clarified that she operates only one official account under the handle @Natashakarugire83 and urged the public to remain vigilant as investigations continued.

Police have now confirmed the arrest of Asharaf Isabirye, Rahman Mulondo, Kakaire Zubail, and Sharif Egesa, all from Iganga District.

According to police, the suspects created fake TikTok and WhatsApp accounts bearing Natasha Karugire’s name and photos, using them to solicit money from victims under the guise of registration and processing fees.

Addressing the media, Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the arrests followed a formal complaint lodged by Ms Karugire.

“When this matter reached us, we swung into action as security agencies. Using our cyber capabilities, we traced and arrested the suspects in Iganga,” Kituuma said.

Police revealed that several mobile phones and multiple SIM cards were recovered and are believed to have been used in the fraudulent activities.

Investigations indicate that the suspects targeted people seeking financial assistance, tricking them into paying fake fees.

Kituuma warned that such scams are becoming increasingly common on social media and urged the public to be cautious.

“Never pay registration fees via social media. It is a very loose platform to fall into. We encourage people to always verify offers before sending money,” he warned.

The four suspects are expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, as investigations into the wider network of impersonators continue.