Iganga businessman arrested over faking Shs 5m robbery

The police in Iganga have arrested businessman Mawazi Waiswa for allegedly fabricating an aggravated robbery in which he claimed to have lost Shs 4.7 million.

Waiswa is being detained at Iganga Central Police Station pending further investigations and prosecution, according to Busoga East Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha.

Police allege that Waiswa reported the robbery on October 18, 2026, claiming that four armed men had intercepted him along the Iganga–Tirinyi road as he returned from delivering goods to Mbale city.

In his initial statement, Waiswa reportedly said the suspects were travelling in a Toyota RAV4 without number plates and had disguised themselves as traffic police officers. They allegedly intercepted his truck, registration number UA 717BN, and demanded money, threatening to kill him if he refused.

Waiswa told police that he handed over Shs 4.7 million before reporting the incident at Iganga Central Police Station.

However, investigators reportedly grew suspicious of his account, prompting the police crime intelligence team, led by Ismael Ssennono, to revisit the alleged crime scene and scrutinise his statements.

Police subsequently reviewed highway CCTV footage, which reportedly showed that the truck had not travelled beyond Iganga town on the day of the alleged robbery.

Investigators also analysed telecommunications data that reportedly placed Waiswa around Busei village in Nakalama sub-county, Iganga district, on October 18, contradicting his account of being attacked along the highway.

Police re-interrogated Waiswa on the evening of October 19, when he allegedly admitted that the robbery had not occurred.

According to police, Waiswa told investigators that he had fabricated the report to pressure the owner of the truck into paying him Shs 1.4 million in outstanding commission from a vehicle sale.

He reportedly said he had brokered the sale of truck UA 717BN alongside a colleague, Ramadthan Owor, who allegedly refused to pay him his commission after the transaction.

Kasadha said providing false information to police contravenes Section 115 of the Penal Code Act and that Waiswa would be charged in court.

He warned that fabricated crime reports divert police personnel and other resources from investigating genuine cases and responding to security concerns.

Kasadha also said two other suspects allegedly involved in concocting the false robbery report had been arrested and detained at Iganga Central Police Station.

He urged the public to provide truthful information when reporting crimes, warning that fabricated complaints unnecessarily burden investigators and delay attention to genuine cases.

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