The year has badly begun for a man who had spent years masquerading as a woman. Justus Ainembabazi, accused of deceiving dozens of unsuspecting men by posing as a woman for several years, was arrested by police in Mbarara.
The revelation came to light on Monday, shattering the long-held belief that Ainembabazi was female. According to Francis Mwemere, the chairman of LCII for Kibingo Parish in Kashari, Mbarara, Ainembabazi had been presenting himself as a woman named “Keitesi.”
To make matters worse, it is said he entered the village under the guise of a pastor before later working as a bar hostess in local establishments.
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“I’ve never seen anything like this before—someone living as a woman for two years and then suddenly being found to be a man in the third year,” Chairman Mwemere exclaimed.
It was revealed that Ainembabazi was discovered in Mwizi, Rwampara District, supervising the finishing construction on his house.
He had been sought by police for phone theft. Philip Byamukama, the village defence chief in Mwizi, explained that Ainembabazi had stolen a phone in Ibanda.
The police had been tracking the suspect under the assumption that he was a woman, until residents in the area identified him as male.
“A complaint was filed here. The complainant had assisted Keitesi in obtaining a SIM card. After stealing a phone in Ibanda, Keitesi fled, but the tracker located him. When I showed people his photo, they confirmed he was a man. I deceived him by pretending to be another man wanting to meet him. We coordinated while keeping track of the call data,” Byamukama narrated.
After his arrest, police personnel were stunned to discover that the person they had believed to be a woman was actually a man.
Further investigation revealed that Ainembabazi had been identifying as female in Buhweju and Mbarara districts for an extended period.
He had been wearing dresses and women’s clothing while engaging in deceptive practices to lure men, particularly for sexual encounters at local bars.
Residents who knew Ainembabazi shared that he had been posing as a pastor in Bugongi and Buhweju for about three years.
One of his acquaintances, Sylvia Komujuni, recalled her shock upon learning the truth: “He went to a bar and duped 10 men, who later forced him to remove his clothes, only to discover he is a man.
“They even cut off his hair. I couldn’t believe it because I’ve known him as a woman for two years, and we’ve shared clothes, underwear, and dresses.”
Ainembabazi’s deception extended beyond personal interactions, as he had been hired by many people who believed he was a woman.
“I found clothes waiting for me when I arrived at parties. When I go to the salon, they do my makeup, and then I attend parties,” Ainembabazi explained when questioned about his actions.
He has since been charged with theft and impersonation.
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