By Karim Were
Kampala, Authorities in Uganda are raising fresh concern over the growing wave of cyber fraud after Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, publicly disowned a series of fake accounts impersonating her online.
According to a statement released through the Office of the National Chairman, fraudsters have been using her identity on TikTok to deceive unsuspecting citizens. The scammers reportedly promise financial aid, scholarships, and government-linked grants, only to later demand money or sensitive personal information from their targets.
Officials emphasized that these schemes are carefully designed to exploit economically vulnerable individuals by presenting false opportunities tied to government support. The office made it clear that Namyalo has no presence on TikTok and does not authorize anyone to solicit funds on her behalf.
The warning highlights a broader trend of digital impersonation targeting public figures, with criminals leveraging social media credibility to gain trust quickly. Victims are often persuaded to pay so-called “facilitation fees” under the belief they are accessing legitimate government programs.
Namyalo urged the public to rely strictly on verified government communication channels and reiterated that authentic government assistance does not require upfront payments. She also called on authorities to intensify efforts to track and prosecute those behind the schemes.
The incident underscores increasing risks in Uganda’s digital space, where identity theft and online scams are becoming more sophisticated, prompting renewed calls for vigilance and public awareness.
