Residents of Kinawataka in Nakawa Division were left stunned after a man masquerading as a senior police officer staged a fake operation and disappeared with property and money recovered during an alleged arrest.
The incident happened on Tuesday, May 14, at Kinawataka Police Station, where a man, who identified himself as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Byarugaba James, claimed he was attached to Entebbe Police Station and was following up on a theft case involving property stolen from Entebbe Hospital.
According to a police report filed by Detective Sergeant Kawere Lazarus, the suspect arrived at the station in the company of Corporal Khaukha Sam, a legitimate police officer.
Both signed out for duty before proceeding to a location in Kinawataka where the suspect claimed the stolen items were being tracked.
At the site, they arrested three individuals, Kalungi Brian, Nakimuli Reshima, and Namugaya Charity allegedly recovering several mobile phones, shoes, and clothes.
The trio was taken to Kinawataka Police Station for further investigation.
Later, Namugaya led the officers to her boyfriend, identified as Oling Isima, who was picked up from his workplace.
However, while returning to the station, the suspect requested to briefly step aside to photocopy a national identification card. That was the last time he was seen. He vanished with the phones that had been recovered during the earlier arrest.
Subsequent inquiries revealed glaring inconsistencies. Entebbe Police Station confirmed there is no officer named ASP Byarugaba James in their records. The station also denied the existence of any police post named Musaana, which the suspect had earlier claimed to be affiliated with.
According to Police, the reference numbers provided by the impostor were also found to be fictitious.
Further investigations uncovered that the suspect returned to the suspects’ residence and made off with Shs450,000 in cash and four mobile phones before disappearing.
The four individuals who were arrested remain in custody at Kinawataka Police Station pending transfer to the relevant unit.
Police have since opened two separate case files: one for impersonation under SD Ref 37/14/05/25 and another for theft under SD Ref 36/14/05/25.
Authorities continue hunting for the suspect, whose true identity remains unknown.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Mr. Patrick Onyango said the matter is being treated seriously.
“We urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals claiming to be police officers. Proper identification should always be verified before any operations are carried out,” he said.
