Businessman jailed for impersonating URA chief

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A man charged with impersonating Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) commissioner general John Musinguzi has been jailed six months after pleading guilty.

Ivan Cyubahiro, a resident of Nankinga Village in Ssabagabo division, Wakiso district, was initially charged in November 2024 but denied the charge. However, when he appeared in court on March 17, 2025, he changed his plea to guilty.

Cyubahiro, who was unrepresented, appeared before the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court presided over by chief magistrate Rachael Nakyazze and informed her that he wanted to change his plea.

He was charged with assuming the character of an officer contrary to Section 198 c of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004.

Prosecution led by legal officers Thomas Davis Lomuria and Stella Nayebare from URA did not oppose the change of plea.

The prosecution said between October and November 2024, Cyubahiro impersonated Musinguzi at various locations in Kampala and Wakiso districts with the intent of obtaining money by false pretenses.

According to the brief facts read out in court by Lomuria, Cyubahiro was arrested following reports that he was soliciting money from people while falsely claiming to be the Commissioner General.

He also created a WhatsApp group under the name of Musinguzi and began using it as his own. Additionally, he designed a wedding invitation card, falsely claiming it was for Musinguzi’s daughter.

Cyubahiro further engaged the chief executive officer of roofings, Sheikh Arif. It was at this stage that URA was alerted, leading to his subsequent arrest.

Lomuria and Nayebare further informed the court that the state had no prior criminal record against Cyubahiro. However, they urged court to consider the rising cases of individuals impersonating the Commissioner General to fraudulently obtain money from the unsuspecting public.

Magistrate Nakyazze noted that she had taken into account the time Cyubahiro had spent on remand in Luzira prison since November 2024. She further acknowledged that he did not waste the court's time and showed remorse for his actions. As a result, she sentenced him to six months' imprisonment.