The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, has blocked a fraudulent compensation payment of Shs13.4 billion to an imposter who falsely claimed ownership of land in Sheema District.
According to the IGG, the land in question is located on Block 19, Plot 49 at Kiyugu, Sheema. Investigations were triggered by a whistleblower’s complaint filed in November 2024, alerting the IGG that the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) was on the verge of paying Mr. James Kumwesiga, who had impersonated the rightful owner, Mr. Polycarp Simba Atuhumuza.
“Investigations conducted by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) established that Mr. Kumwesiga had jointly opened a fraudulent bank account in ABSA Bank with two other individuals using forged national IDs and phone numbers, and later submitted it to ULC for payment,” a statement from the IGG’s office read on Wednesday.
Following the findings, the IGG directed the ULC to immediately halt the payment. Kumwesiga has since been arrested and is facing prosecution by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The IGG’s intervention saved the government from losing Shs13.4 billion.
The ombudsman has now urged all government ministries, departments, and agencies to conduct thorough due diligence before processing payments to claimants, in a bid to safeguard public resources and prevent fraudulent transactions.
