Police have arrested a 53-year-old businesswoman accused of impersonating a State House official and allegedly defrauding a Member of Parliament of Shs60 million through false promises of accessing government funds.
The suspect, Hope Tumwebaze, a resident of Kamukuzi in Mbarara City, was arrested by the Kampala Metropolitan South Police on allegations of impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences.
Speaking at the weekly police briefing at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said preliminary investigations indicate that Tumwebaze allegedly claimed she was attached to the Office of the President and had the ability to facilitate the release of government funds to selected districts.
According to police, the suspect approached the legislator on several occasions beginning in June 2025 and convinced the MP that she could secure the funds through her purported connections. Believing the claims, the complainant reportedly transferred a total of Shs60 million to her.
Police said a General Enquiry File was subsequently opened, leading to Tumwebaze’s arrest.
She is currently in police custody as detectives continue investigating the case. Investigators are also seeking to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud and determine whether other victims or accomplices may have been involved.
