INSIDE THE SH60M CON! How Fake M7 Aide Fleeced Junior Defence Minister & Kisoro Woman MP Akifeza… As Old Fraud Claims Resurface
A montage of suspect Hope Tumwebaze (L) and Junior Defence Minister Akifeza
KAMPALA: A woman who allegedly masqueraded as a powerful operative from President Yoweri Museveni’s Office has landed in police custody after allegedly conning newly appointed State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs and Kisoro Woman MP Grace Akifeza Ngabirano out of UGX 60 million in a sophisticated fake State House deal has been exposed.
The suspect, Hope Tumwebaze, 53, a businesswoman and politician from Kamukuzi in Mbarara City, is accused of convincing the minister that she had the influence to fast-track government programmes and funding for Kisoro District.
Police say Akifeza, who only joined Cabinet last month, reportedly transferred the money in instalments between June and November 2025 after Tumwebaze allegedly claimed she was working from the Office of the President and needed facilitation to unlock government projects.
But the promised government programmes never materialised.
When the minister became suspicious, she reported the matter to police, triggering investigations that ended with Tumwebaze’s arrest in Kampala.
According to the charge sheet, Tumwebaze has been charged with obtaining money by false pretences under Section 285 of the Penal Code.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said investigators believe the minister may not be the only victim.
“The MP sent the money in instalments believing it would help her constituency benefit from government programmes. The suspect claimed to be from the Office of the President and convinced the complainant that the money was needed to expedite service delivery,” Rusoke said.
Police have now appealed to the public and government officials to verify anyone claiming to represent State House before handing over money.
“We urge all citizens and public officials to be vigilant. If someone claims to act for the Office of the President in fundraising, communication or transactions, first verify with the authorised offices,” Rusoke warned.
OLD SCANDALS RETURN
As news of her arrest spread, fresh claims resurfaced linking Tumwebaze to an earlier multimillion-shilling deal in Mbarara.
Sources allege that in 2018 she convinced a local businessman, identified only as Bogere, that she could help him secure a lucrative State House deal.
The businessman is said to have mortgaged property worth more than UGX 300 million to raise the money, only for the promised deal to collapse, leaving him allegedly bankrupt after losing both the cash and the building.
Investigators are also looking into claims that Tumwebaze’s alleged son, identified only as Mark, has been moving around claiming to be a soldier attached to State House.
Those allegations have not resulted in any publicly known conviction, but investigators are now expected to examine whether there is any connection between the previous complaints and the current case.
POWERFUL NRM MOBILISER
Before her arrest, Tumwebaze was widely known in Mbarara’s political circles as a prominent NRM mobiliser.
She previously served as Mbarara District Women Council Chairperson and, despite losing her elective position, remained active in party mobilisation.
She is also known as a businesswoman and used to operate a boutique on Mbaguta Street in Mbarara City and was frequently seen at NRM meetings, where she was perceived by some as having strong links to influential figures in State House.
Police investigations are continuing as detectives seek to establish whether other politicians, businesspeople or members of the public may have fallen victim to the same alleged scheme.
Grace Akifeza Ngabirano is the Woman Member of Parliament for Kisoro District and serves as the State Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs in Uganda’s cabinet.
She won the Kisoro District Woman MP by-election in late 2024 to replace the late Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi.
She was re-elected with an overwhelming majority, securing 74,700 votes to represent the region for the 2026–2031 parliamentary term.
She was officially appointed to President Yoweri Museveni’s cabinet in May 2026.
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