Man Arrested for Impersonating URA Boss to Defraud Citizens

A 36-year-old man from Kisoro District has been arrested for impersonating the Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and defrauding unsuspecting citizens.

Ivan Cyubahiro, a broker and resident of Bunamwaya, was apprehended over the weekend after concerned citizens tipped off authorities. Posing as URA Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi, Cyubahiro allegedly solicited contributions for his daughter's "wedding," a claim later confirmed to be false.

To bolster his deception, Cyubahiro used the Commissioner General’s photo as his WhatsApp profile picture, further convincing Ugandans of his fabricated identity.

According to Robert Kalumba, the Ag. Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs at URA, Cyubahiro was tracked and arrested by intelligence officers on Saturday.

“Investigations are still ongoing, and Cyubahiro will be arraigned in court soon,” Kalumba stated, cautioning the public to report fraudsters and avoid handling tax-related matters outside official URA offices.

“URA does not handle cash payments. Always visit our offices for all tax-related matters,” Kalumba emphasized.

When questioned, Cyubahiro denied the allegations, claiming a friend, Muwonge Patrick, was behind the fraudulent invitations. However, he expressed remorse, pleading for a second chance and promising to abandon such activities.

Further investigations revealed that Cyubahiro is a serial impersonator. Records show he was previously arrested in June for posing as Donati Kananura, a renowned real estate mogul, to con unsuspecting victims.

Authorities have called for vigilance to prevent similar scams and urged citizens to verify suspicious claims with the relevant authorities.