Police in Iganga, Uganda, have launched an investigation into allegations of forgery, uttering forged documents, obtaining money by false pretences, and impersonation at Lubega Institute of Nursing and Health Professionals. About 90 students are reportedly implicated in the suspected scheme. The probe follows allegations raised in Parliament by Bubulo East County MP John Musila, who accused the institution of forcing parents to pay school fees twice.
However, police have given a different account of the matter, saying their investigation centres on allegations that some students presented forged Stanbic Bank deposit slips to the institution as proof of fee payment. According to police, the documents were purportedly issued in the name of one Joshua Mwesigwa, who allegedly presented himself as a bank agent.
Busoga East Police spokesperson ASP Michael Kasadha said the institution reported the suspected forgery after management detected bank deposit slips that were allegedly not genuine. Kasadha said investigations were opened after the complaint was lodged and that three student suspects had so far been produced in court, with the case still ongoing.
Police are also pursuing other suspects believed to have played a role in the alleged scheme. Kasadha said Mwesigwa, whom police describe as an alleged principal suspect and external agent, had been on the run for approximately two months before investigators tracked him down and arrested him. He is currently being held at Iganga Central Police Station.
Investigators have also recorded statements from the institute's management, parents, and some of the affected students as part of efforts to establish how the alleged fraudulent payments were organised and processed. The suspected forged bank slips recovered during the investigation have reportedly been submitted for forensic examination.
Police have also held a stakeholders' meeting involving the institute's board, parents, students, and police officers to discuss the allegations and establish the facts surrounding the dispute. Kasadha said the meeting was intended to bring together the different parties involved and allow investigators to obtain information relevant to the case.
Lubega Institute has rejected the allegations that it was forcing parents to pay school fees twice, saying the matter was linked to suspected fraudulent fee-payment documents rather than a deliberate attempt by management to make students pay fees more than once. The institute identified MP John Musila as the father of a student, Malvin Khainza, whom it alleges was among the approximately 90 students identified in connection with the suspected forged bank slips.
Key points
- About 90 students are implicated in the alleged scheme involving forged Stanbic Bank deposit slips.
- Police have arrested an alleged principal suspect, Joshua Mwesigwa, and are pursuing two other suspects.
- The investigation follows allegations raised in Parliament by Bubulo East County MP John Musila.
