A businessman has been charged with allegedly impersonating a Ministry of Water and Environment official and demanding Shs500 million from a Chinese-owned vehicle assembly company.
Nuwagaba Vincent was on Thursday arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on charges of impersonating a public official, corruption and demanding money by menace.
The prosecution alleges that in August 2026, Nuwagaba approached a director of Double Q Company Ltd at different locations in Mpigi and Kampala and demanded Shs500 million.
According to investigators, Nuwagaba falsely presented himself as an official from the Ministry of Water and Environment and accused the company of degrading a wetland at Nakirebe in Mpigi District.
The prosecution alleges that Nuwagaba told the company’s directors that he could help prevent or frustrate action by relevant authorities against their activities at the site if they paid the money.
He is further accused of working with people purportedly connected to the Ministry of Water and Environment and Mpigi Magistrate’s Court to pressure the victims into paying the money.
The businessman was arrested following investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The court remanded Nuwagaba until September 29, 2026, as investigations continue.
The investigating agencies said efforts were underway to identify and apprehend other people suspected to have been involved in the alleged extortion scheme.
