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 in a sophisticated scam.
Ivan Cyubahiro, a broker residing in Bunamwaya, was apprehended over the weekend following tips from concerned citizens. Disguising himself as URA Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi, Cyubahiro reportedly solicited funds for his alleged daughter’s “wedding,” a claim later debunked as entirely false.
To enhance his deception, Cyubahiro used the Commissioner General’s photo as his WhatsApp profile picture, further solidifying his fabricated identity and duping unsuspecting Ugandans.
Robert Kalumba, the Acting Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs at URA, confirmed Cyubahiro’s arrest. “Investigations are ongoing, and Cyubahiro will be presented in court soon,” Kalumba stated. He also urged the public to report fraudsters and refrain from engaging in tax-related matters outside official URA offices.
“URA does not handle cash payments. Always visit our offices for any tax-related issues,” Kalumba emphasized.
When interrogated, Cyubahiro denied the allegations, alleging that a friend, Muwonge Patrick, was behind the fraudulent activities. Despite this, he expressed remorse, pleading for forgiveness and vowing to cease such illegal operations.
Further investigations revealed Cyubahiro’s history as a serial impersonator. Records indicate he was arrested in June for posing as Donati Kananura, a prominent real estate tycoon, to defraud more victims.
