The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, has saved the government UGX 13.35 billion by blocking a fraudulent land compensation payout.
A whistleblower alerted the IGG in November 2024 that the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) was about to pay Mr. James Kumwesiga, who had impersonated the rightful landowner, Mr. Polycarp Simba Atuhumuza. The land in question is located on Block 19, Plot 49, Kiyugu, Sheema District.
Investigations revealed that Kumwesiga, using forged national IDs and phone numbers, had opened a fake bank account at ABSA Bank with two accomplices and submitted it to ULC for payment.
The IGG ordered ULC to halt the transaction, preventing the loss of UGX 13,355,000,000. Kumwesiga has since been arrested and is being prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Following the incident, the IGG urged all government ministries, departments, and agencies to conduct proper due diligence before processing payments to avoid fraud and protect public funds.
