An 18-year-old Senior Three student has been fined Shs100,000 after admitting to impersonating prominent Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu, also known as Ham.
On Monday, April 28, 2025, Ruth Nandase pleaded guilty to charges of impersonation and obtaining money by false pretenses at Buganda Road Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi. This followed a plea bargain agreement she reached with the state and representatives of Ham for a lighter sentence.
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State prosecutor Ivan Kyazze informed the court that Nandase accepted the fine after her father pledged to assist authorities in tracking down the main suspect with whom she had conspired. Prosecutors also noted that her involvement appeared minimal and that she was being manipulated by others.
“She was being used, and following discussions with her father — who has committed to help locate the main suspect — we agreed on a fine,” Mr Kyazze said.
Karim Serugo, spokesperson for Hamis Enterprises, told the court they were confident in Nandase’s father’s ability to assist, given his leadership position in his community.
Nandase was jointly charged with Babu Maniharah, a 33-year-old builder, and Frank Sempa, a 25-year-old hawker. The two co-accused were remanded until May 14, 2025, when they are scheduled to return to court.
According to the prosecution, between 2023 and February 2024, Nandase, Maniharah, Sempa, and others still at large falsely presented themselves as Hamis Kiggundu of Hamis Enterprises Ltd in an attempt to defraud individuals across Kampala’s Central Division.
On January 29, 2025, Sempa allegedly swindled Shs50,000 from Shafic Kawooya by impersonating Ham and promising to help him obtain a loan.
Court documents also reveal that two weeks ago, Mr. Serugo encountered a scammer on TikTok pretending to be Ham. After being lured into conversation, Serugo was asked for a “security deposit” and given a fake manager’s number. Upon further investigation, it became apparent that multiple people were being targeted by the impersonator.
Following the discovery of the scam, Serugo reported the case to the police, leading to the arrest of Nandase and Maniharah through phone tracking.
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