Kampala, Uganda — The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, has saved the government from losing over UGX 13.3 billion to a fraudulent compensation scheme involving forged documents and impersonation.
According to a statement from the Inspectorate of Government, the scam was uncovered following a whistle-blower complaint in November 2024, which alleged that the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) was preparing to compensate Mr. James Kumwesiga, who falsely claimed to be the owner of land located at Block 19, Plot 49 in Kiyugu, Sheema District.
Investigations revealed that Kumwesiga had impersonated the rightful landowner, Mr. Polycarp Simba Atuhumuza, and—together with two accomplices—opened a fraudulent bank account at ABSA Bank using forged National IDs and phone numbers. The fake account was then submitted to ULC as the designated recipient for the compensation funds.
Upon confirming the fraud, the IGG immediately ordered ULC to halt the payment, effectively blocking the illegal transaction and safeguarding UGX 13,355,000,000 in public funds.
Mr. Kumwesiga has since been arrested and is currently being prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
In response to the incident, the IGG called on all government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to strengthen due diligence processes before effecting payments to any individuals or entities.
“This case underscores the importance of accountability, thorough verification, and the need to protect public resources,” the IGG stated.
