Security agencies have launched a hunt for a man who impersonated State House staff to secure accommodation in a Busia hotel for 34 days, during which he accumulated bills amounting to over Shs5 million.
According to management, Solomon Buyizi Ssemakula checked into Gold Star Hotel in Busia on October 13, 2025, identifying himself as a State House employee attached to the Presidential Press Unit (PPU).
“He said he was part of the advance team and would stay for a month before being joined by other PPU staff who would come with the money,” the hotel manager Martin Tusiime said.
Although the manager grew suspicious after only four days, the imposter allegedly reassured him that everything was in order and continued with his stay uninterrupted.
The suspect—now on the run—claimed he was mobilising ahead of President Museveni’s campaigns in the area and that part of his assignment involved distributing NRM T-shirts.
“During all this time, he was eating, sleeping and drinking expensively. At some point he started paying using mobile money, but later we discovered that the money he claimed to have sent never reached our accounts,” the manager added.
The hotel suspects that Buyizi would send money and then initiate reversals afterwards.
Runs Out of Luck
The imposter’s luck eventually ran out after he promised to pay Shs20,000 each to 200 boda boda riders. When they realised, they had been duped, the riders stormed the hotel and broke its gates while searching for him, forcing the impersonator to flee for his life.
By the time he disappeared, the suspect had accumulated hotel bills worth Shs5 million.
Meanwhile, the hotel is also demanding an additional Shs21 million, which management says was spent repairing the gate vandalised by the angry boda boda riders.
A case of theft has since been registered under SD Ref 38/13/11/2025 against Buyizi , who is said to be affiliated to one Nobert, an events promoter, under Unstoppable Uganda.
Contacted for a comment, Special Forces Command spokesperson Maj Jimmy Omara confirmed that the PPU does not have any staff member by the name Solomon Buyizi Ssemakula.
"I can confirm that Mr. Solomon Buyizi Ssemakula is neither a member of the presidential press unit nor a member of the media team on the presidential campaign trail,” Maj Omara said.
He said the matter is being investigated, urging anyone with information leading to Buyizi’s arrest to come forward .
“We appeal to the public to always verify the authenticity of individuals claiming to represent them. We assure the public that we will pursue all avenues to bring the culprit to book,” he said.