A man from Kisoro District has been arrested for defrauding people by posing as the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
Ivan Cyubahiro, a 36-year-old broker and resident of Bunamwaya, was apprehended last weekend after a tip-off from concerned citizens. It is alleged that Cyubahiro had been soliciting contributions for the wedding of the Commissioner General’s daughter, a claim later revealed to be false.
To further deceive his victims, Cyubahiro reportedly used the Commissioner General’s portrait as his WhatsApp profile photo.
According to Robert Kalumba, the Acting Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, Cyubahiro was tracked by intelligence officers and arrested on Saturday. He will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Kalumba warned the public to be cautious of such fraudsters and urged them to report suspected cases to the police, emphasizing that URA does not handle cash payments.
In his defense, Cyubahiro denied the accusations, claiming that a friend, Muwonge Patrick, had brokered the deal and designed the invitation cards for the fake wedding. He expressed remorse and promised to refrain from such activities if given a second chance.
URA officials also revealed that Cyubahiro is a repeat offender, having been arrested in June for impersonating Mzee Kananura, a prominent businessman in Kampala.
