KAMPALA — Police have arrested a man accused of impersonating Maj Gen Richard Otoo Owili, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), in an alleged scheme involving fake documents and claims of access to senior military officials.
The suspect, identified as Musasizi Samuel, reportedly from Luuka District and residing at Naguru Barracks, was arrested on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at about noon.
A public alert circulating from security officials identified the case as an instance of “criminal impersonation” involving Maj Gen Richard Otoo Owili.
According to the information released about the case, Musasizi allegedly presented himself as the senior military officer and used mobile telephone numbers 0742160741 and 0762188246 to communicate with members of the public.
He is accused of sharing forged documents and attempting to arrange meetings while falsely representing himself as the army intelligence chief.
Security authorities have urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report individuals suspected of impersonating military or other government officials.
The case comes amid repeated warnings about fraudsters who exploit the names and offices of senior government and security officials to gain trust, solicit money or lure members of the public into fraudulent arrangements.
Police have advised members of the public to independently verify claims made by individuals presenting themselves as military officers or government officials before engaging with them or acting on their requests.
The public has also been encouraged to report suspicious conduct through official police channels, including emergency numbers 999 and 112, rather than relying on information supplied by the suspected impersonator.
Authorities are expected to investigate the documents allegedly circulated by the suspect, the people he contacted and whether anyone lost money or suffered other forms of fraud as a result of the alleged impersonation.
Musasizi remains in custody as investigations continue. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
The arrest also serves as a warning about the growing sophistication of impersonation scams: a name, a uniform, a phone number and an official-looking document can create the appearance of authority. But appearance is not authority.
Security agencies are urging citizens to verify before they trust — particularly when a purported military or government official asks for money, confidential information or an unusual meeting.
