Police in Iganga District have arrested businessman Mawazi Waiswa over allegations that he staged a robbery and falsely reported losing Shs4.7 million.
Busoga East Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha said Waiswa is being held at Iganga Central Police Station as investigations continue ahead of his prosecution.
According to police, Waiswa reported on October 18, 2026, that four armed men had robbed him along the Iganga–Tirinyi road as he returned from delivering goods to Mbale City.
He allegedly told investigators that the attackers were travelling in a Toyota RAV4 without number plates and had disguised themselves as traffic police officers. They reportedly stopped his truck, registration number UA 717BN, demanded money and threatened to kill him if he failed to comply.
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Waiswa claimed he surrendered Shs4.7 million before reporting the alleged robbery to police.
However, detectives reportedly questioned his account and launched further inquiries to establish what had happened. A crime intelligence team led by Ismael Ssennono revisited the alleged scene and examined the information provided by the businessman.
Police subsequently reviewed highway CCTV footage, which reportedly indicated that the truck had not travelled beyond Iganga town on the day the alleged robbery occurred.
Telecommunications data also reportedly placed Waiswa around Busei Village in Nakalama Sub-county, Iganga District, on October 18, a finding that investigators said contradicted his account of being attacked along the highway.
During further questioning on the evening of October 19, Waiswa allegedly admitted that the robbery had been fabricated.
Police said he told investigators that he had made the report to pressure the truck’s owner into paying him Shs1.4 million in outstanding commission from a vehicle sale.
Waiswa reportedly explained that he had helped broker the sale of truck UA 717BN with a colleague, Ramadthan Owor, who allegedly failed to pay him the agreed commission after the transaction.
Kasadha said Waiswa could face charges under Section 115 of the Penal Code Act for allegedly providing false information to police.
He cautioned that making false crime reports wastes investigative resources and diverts officers from responding to genuine security incidents.
Kasadha further disclosed that two other suspects allegedly connected to the fabrication of the robbery report had also been arrested and detained at Iganga Central Police Station.
He urged members of the public to report crimes truthfully, warning that fabricated allegations can delay investigations and undermine efforts to address genuine criminal cases.
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