In a swift operation, three fraudsters were arrested for attempting to scam Pastor David Fredrick Isanga of the Universal Apostles Fellowship Church of Righteousness in Jinja. The trio had been impersonating officers from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), and their attempt to extort the pastor of 20 million shillings nearly succeeded. The fraudsters—Kintu Aggrey (alias Werage Kenneth), Isiko Moses (alias Isabirye Moses), and Nuwagira Herman—claimed to be investigating Pastor Isanga for involvement in a fake US dollar scam. They demanded a large sum of money from the pastor, promising that paying the amount would help close the supposed investigation.
The scam was uncovered through a joint effort by the SH-ACU, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Internal Security Organization (ISO), who had been tipped off about the fraudulent activities. Between September and October 2025, the fraudsters persistently summoned Pastor Isanga, who became increasingly suspicious. Instead of meeting the criminals directly, he tasked his church lawyer, Isabirye Derrick, and a church elder, Dr. Micheal Kyakula, to attend a meeting with the fraudsters at Nommo Gallery in Nakasero, where the scammers repeated their demands.
The fraudsters’ audacity didn’t stop there. On October 7, 2025, they sent a forged letter summoning Pastor Isanga to appear at the Anti-Corruption Unit’s offices at Kingdom Kampala Building for an interrogation related to a “Black Dollar scam.” At this point, Pastor Isanga, with guidance from SH-ACU, decided to comply with the fake summons. The fraudsters were arrested on-site as they attempted to carry out their scam in broad daylight. A search of their belongings revealed the forged summons, providing solid evidence of their deceptive plans.
In a press conference, the Deputy Head of SH-ACU, Mr. Ochwo, expressed gratitude to the pastor and his legal team for their vigilance. He praised their swift action in preventing a potential loss of 130 million shillings. The authorities are now pursuing legal action against the fraudsters, who face charges of forgery, uttering false documents, and impersonating public officials.
The church’s lawyer, Isabirye Derrick, also thanked SH-ACU for their quick response in arresting the suspects. He acknowledged the significant role of SH-ACU in protecting Pastor Isanga and preventing a major financial loss. “Without SH-ACU’s prompt intervention, my client could have fallen victim to this elaborate scam,” he said.
SH-ACU has warned the public to be cautious of similar scams and advised people to report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities. For anyone who may encounter fraudulent schemes, SH-ACU’s toll-free line at 0800202500 is available for reporting and assistance.
The swift arrest of these fraudsters is a reminder of the growing number of impersonation scams in the country and highlights the importance of staying vigilant in the face of such deceptive activities.
