Ugandan authorities have dismantled an online syndicate using Natasha Karugire’s identity to defraud unsuspecting citizens through fake social media accounts.

The allure of proximity to power has once again been weaponized by cybercriminals, this time targeting the First Family of Uganda. Police in Iganga have arrested four suspects accused of running a sophisticated online scam by impersonating Natasha Karugire, the daughter of President Yoweri Museveni. The suspects—identified as Allan Isabirye, Rahman Mulondo, Zubair Kakaire, and Sharif Egesa—were rounded up in a joint operation involving the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and anti-terrorism units.

The syndicate operated by creating convincing fake profiles on TikTok and WhatsApp, using Natasha’s name and photographs to build trust. Once a connection was established, they would solicit money from victims under the guise of "registration" or "processing fees" for non-existent financial aid programs. It was a classic advance-fee fraud, repackaged with a VIP veneer to lower the defenses of desperate citizens seeking help.

The Sting Operation

The law finally caught up with the gang after Natasha Karugire herself filed a formal complaint with the CID, flagging the fraudulent accounts. Using cyber-forensics, detectives tracked the digital footprints to Iganga, where the four men were apprehended. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-39)A search of their hideout yielded a trove of evidence, including multiple mobile phones and SIM cards used to coordinate the scam. Police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma confirmed that the suspects would be charged with cyber fraud and impersonation.

This arrest sheds light on a growing epidemic of cybercrime in the region. Uganda has seen a 93.5% spike in reported cybercrimes in the last year alone, with scammers becoming increasingly brazen in their choice of targets. The fact that they dared to impersonate a member of the First Family speaks to the perceived impunity with which these digital gangs operate.

• The Method: The scammers exploited the publics desire for financial assistance, promising grants and aid in exchange for a small upfront fee—a "processing" cost that never existed.
• The Warning: Police have issued a stern warning to the public: official government assistance is never processed through personal social media accounts or via mobile money solicitations on WhatsApp.
• The Context: This case follows a similar pattern seen across East Africa, where the identities of politicians and celebrities are routinely cloned to scam followers.

A Digital Wild West

The dismantling of this cell is a victory for the police, but it is a drop in the ocean. As internet penetration deepens, so too does the sophistication of online fraudsters. The "Natasha Karugire" scam is a reminder that in the digital age, trust must be verified. For the four suspects now sitting in a cell in Iganga, the game is over, but for the public, the lesson is clear: if a "First Daughter" asks you for mobile money on TikTok, it is almost certainly a trap.