By KAMPALA; Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has arrested two men accused of masterminding a sophisticated scam involving a fake Supermatch cigarette deal.
The suspects, Frank Mugisha and George Muhumuza, face charges of obtaining money by false pretence, falsifying customs documents, and fabricating export entries to defraud an investor.
According to URA investigators, the case originated from a complaint by Congolese businessman Masereka Musavuli, who reported that the duo tricked him into paying shs 36.88 million and USD 15,000 after claiming they were selling Super Match cigarettes allegedly stored at the URA customs warehouse in Nakawa.
Frank reportedly convinced Masereka that the cigarettes had been seized while entering Uganda from Kenya and offered to facilitate their export to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Muhumuza was introduced as the owner of the purported consignment.
To make the scheme appear credible, the suspects escorted Masereka to the Nakawa warehouse, showing him sacks from a distance and matching them to photos previously shared.
He was denied access inside, with Muhumuza insisting that clearance would only be granted after finalizing paperwork.
URA intelligence later confirmed that the payment documents issued to Masereka including an expired PRN and a fraudulent assessment were part of the scam. Masereka deposited the money at DT Bank in Kampala on May 6, 2025.
He was also instructed to purchase packaging materials and hire a truck for the supposed loading. However, when the truck arrived at Nakawa, no cigarettes were released. Instead, it was held at the gate for weeks before being cleared with nothing ever loaded.
Investigations have since established that no such cigarette consignment ever existed at the warehouse, nor was any export of that nature registered.
Ag. Manager Intelligence, Alfred Kyamanywa, cautioned the public, stressing that URA does not sell seized cigarettes.
“Customs Enforcement conducts numerous operations, many involving contraband cigarettes such as Super Match and Oris. When we impound these cigarettes, they are disposed of strictly in accordance with the law. We don’t sell cigarettes at URA Nakawa Headquarters,” he stated.
URA Commissioner General John R. Musinguzi also condemned the fraudsters’ actions and urged the public to remain vigilant.
“Be wary of anybody claiming that URA is selling cigarettes. Report such individuals to the nearest police station or URA office. We are always ready to act,” he said.
He added that the institution is committed to safeguarding the public, upholding URA’s integrity, and ensuring that perpetrators face the full force of the law.
A case file (GEF 145/2025) has been opened, and investigations are ongoing to ensure justice for the victim and prevent similar scams.
