Renowned Iganga businessman Mawazi Waiswa is in police custody in Iganga for allegedly feeding police false information about a fictitious aggravated robbery in which he claimed to have lost Shs 4.7 million.
Waiswa is being detained at Iganga Central Police Station pending further investigations and prosecution, according to Busoga East Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha. Police allege that Waiswa reported the robbery on October 18, 2026, claiming that four armed men had robbed him of the money along the Iganga-Tirinyi road as he returned from delivering goods to Mbale City.
According to his initial statement, the suspects were travelling in a Toyota RAV4 without number plates and had disguised themselves as traffic police officers. They allegedly intercepted his truck, registration number UA 717BN, and demanded that he surrender the money or risk being killed.
Waiswa reportedly told police that he handed over the Shs 4.7 million before rushing to Iganga Central Police Station to report the incident. However, the account reportedly raised suspicion among investigators, prompting the police crime intelligence team, led by Ismael Ssennono, to revisit the alleged crime scene and scrutinise his statements.
Investigators subsequently reviewed highway CCTV footage monitored by police, which reportedly showed that the truck had not travelled beyond Iganga town on the day the alleged robbery occurred. Police also analysed telecommunications data, which reportedly placed Waiswa’s movements around Busei Village in Nakalama Sub-county, Iganga District, on October 18, contrary to his account of having been attacked along the highway.
The findings prompted investigators to re-interrogate Waiswa on the evening of October 19, when he allegedly admitted that the robbery had not occurred. According to police, Waiswa told investigators that he had fabricated the robbery report to pressure the owner of the truck into paying him Shs 1.4 million in outstanding commission from a vehicle sale.
He reportedly explained that he had brokered the sale of truck UA 717BN alongside his colleague, Ramadthan Owor, but that Owor allegedly refused to pay his commission after the transaction was concluded. Police allege that Waiswa then invented the aggravated robbery claim as a means of compelling payment.Kasadha said providing false information to police contravene Section 115 of the Penal Code Act, adding that Waiswa would be charged in court. He said false reports consume police resources and personnel that could otherwise be deployed to investigate genuine criminal complaints and respond to other security concerns.
Kasadha also revealed that two other suspects allegedly involved in concocting the false robbery report had been arrested and detained at Iganga Central Police Station. He warned members of the public against making fabricated criminal complaints, saying such actions unnecessarily burden investigators and divert their attention from genuine cases.
Kasadha urged the public to provide truthful information when reporting crimes to enable police to use their resources effectively and ensure that genuine complaints receive the attention they deserve-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
