A senior three student, Ruth Nandase, has been remanded to Luzira for allegedly impersonating businessman Hamis Kiggundu.
The 18-year-old Nandase appeared in court alongside 33-year-old Babu Maniharah, a builder, who faces the same counts of impersonation and cheating. The duo, both residents of Bugabwe village, Nakigo sub‑county in Iganga district pleaded not guilty before chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on Wednesday.
The prosecution states that between 2023 and February 2024, Nandase, Maniharah, and others still at large, purported to be Hamis Kiggundu of Hamis Enterprises Ltd., using the ruse to swindle unsuspecting people in Kampala’s Central Division.
One victim, Shafic Kawooya, reportedly lost Shs 50,000 after co‑accused Frank Sempa (already on remand) promised to secure a “loan” for him while masquerading as Kiggundu.
The scam unravelled when Karim Serugo, the public relations officer at Hamis Enterprises, encountered a TikTok account impersonating the tycoon and alerted police. Police investigators traced Nandase and Maniharah on a trip back to Iganga, arrested them, and detained them at Kampala Central police station before arraignment.
Because neither accused produced sureties, magistrate Kayizzi remanded them to Luzira until April 28, 2025. State attorney Ivan Kyazze told the court that inquiries are still ongoing.
