The Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero has sentenced a Kampala man to six months in Luzira Prison after he pleaded guilty to impersonating the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Mr. John Musinguzi, and fraudulently obtaining money under false pretenses.
Lubega Mohammad, a resident of Rubaga Division and an active member of St. Racheal Church of Uganda, was convicted on April 7, 2025, after admitting to impersonation and deception targeting a fellow churchgoer.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on Sunday, January 12, 2025, shortly after a church service.
Mr. Lubega, posing as Mr. Musinguzi, approached the head of the laity at Kazo Archdeaconry, Mr. Kawaga Paul, and claimed he was searching for a trustworthy person to work as his driver at URA.
Trusting the seemingly well-intentioned request, Mr. Kawaga recommended one of the congregants, Mr. Kamugisha Joseph. Lubega later contacted Kamugisha that evening and instructed him to send UGX 688,000 to purchase an official work phone, promising a job at the URA headquarters in Nakawa the following day.
On Monday, January 13, a hopeful Kamugisha reported to URA as instructed, only to learn that no such job offer existed and that the real Commissioner General had no knowledge of the matter.
Attempts to contact Lubega were futile, as his phone was switched off. Realising he had been duped, Kamugisha reported the incident to the Commissioner of Tax Investigations.
Following swift investigations by URA, in conjunction with the Uganda Police Force, Lubega was tracked, arrested, and brought in for questioning. During interrogation, he confessed to the fraudulent scheme and later pleaded guilty before the Anti-Corruption Court.
Presiding magistrate His Worship Albert Asiimwe found Lubega guilty on his own plea and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment at Luzira Prison for assuming the character of a public officer and obtaining money by false pretenses.
The court also heard a related case involving another impersonator, Mr. Cyubahiro Ivan, who had similarly posed as the URA Commissioner General. He too pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison.
Speaking on the matter, the Uganda Revenue Authority condemned the acts of impersonation and warned the public to be vigilant.
URA officials emphasized that such fraudulent schemes not only tarnish the image of public institutions but also exploit the hopes of unsuspecting citizens.
“The public is urged to be alert and report any suspicious behaviour or fraudulent claims to URA. We will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone found impersonating our officers or committing any tax-related crimes,” a URA spokesperson stated.
As the number of impersonation cases rises, security agencies have reiterated the importance of community awareness and caution, especially regarding unsolicited job offers and suspicious monetary requests.
