Game Over! Bogus State House Officer Arrested For Conning Ugandans Using SHIPU Cover

By Our Reporter 

Security agencies have arrested a man accused of running an elaborate impersonation and extortion scheme while posing as a senior military officer attached to the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU).

The suspect, Franco Mugumya, was intercepted in a coordinated operation involving the Uganda Police Force, the Directorate of Crime Intelligence, and Central Police Station (CPS) Kampala, working closely with SHIPU officials.

Authorities say Mugumya spent months deceiving members of the public by presenting himself as a UPDF officer at the rank of Major. He reportedly introduced himself under multiple forged identities, including Maj. Hannington and SP Hannington Banda, to gain trust and extract money from unsuspecting victims.

According to SHIPU, Mugumya falsely claimed to be working directly under Col. Edith Nakalema, the head of the Unit. Armed with this fabricated connection, he targeted individuals seeking government assistance, promising to fast-track their personal or business concerns in exchange for money.

His scheme began to unravel when a victim, Phiona Ariho, approached SHIPU to verify Mugumya’s claims. The Unit immediately alerted security agencies, leading to his arrest.

In a statement, SHIPU distanced itself from the suspect, stressing that Mugumya has never been an employee, agent, or affiliate of the Unit or the UPDF.

“SHIPU offers a free public service, and any person demanding payment while claiming to work for the Unit is a fraudster. Such characters taint the image of public offices and must be reported,” officials said.

Police confirmed that Mugumya is now in custody and will be charged with impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence, and forgery. Investigators are also pursuing leads to identify additional victims who may have fallen prey to his fraudulent activities.

SHIPU, under Col. Nakalema’s leadership, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding investors and ensuring that no legitimate service under the Unit requires any form of payment. The public has been urged to remain vigilant and report anyone claiming to offer SHIPU-related services for a fee.

The arrest comes amid a growing wave of impersonation cases targeting government institutions. Security agencies have repeatedly warned the public about fraudsters posing as soldiers, police officers, and government officials to extort money.

Police have encouraged anyone who may have interacted with Mugumya to report to the nearest station to support ongoing investigations.