Authorities have arrested a man posing as a senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer under the alias “General Isa,” following a string of high-level fraud cases targeting foreign investors.
The arrest was confirmed on Wednesday by Col Chris Magezi, the Military Assistant to the Chief of Defence Forces, who noted that the suspect had been masquerading as a UPDF general to defraud foreign businessmen of billions of shillings.
“He has scammed many foreign investors of billions of shillings by pretending to be a UPDF General,” Col Magezi said.
This development follows recent investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), which uncovered a wider criminal network impersonating senior government officials to orchestrate fraudulent procurement deals.
In one case, the group allegedly targeted Mr. Furkan Gumran, a Turkish businessman, and his company, Sirus Blue Chemical Manufacturing Co. Ltd, offering a fake $4.95 million (approx. UGX 18 billion) contract to supply AD BLUE solution to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
According to SHACU, the syndicate had been operating for years, exploiting dozens of foreign investors. The fraudsters posed as members of non-existent Special Contracts Committees, claiming affiliation with the Parliament, the Office of the President, or the NRM party.
They went as far as forging official documents, using fake government stamps, and building counterfeit websites bearing national symbols to appear legitimate.
The suspect is expected to be formally charged in court.
