A businessman accused of impersonating an official from the Ministry of Water and Environment and demanding Shs500 million from a Chinese-owned vehicle assembly company has been remanded to prison.
Vincent Nuwagaba was on Friday arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court and charged with impersonating a public official, corruption and demanding money by menace.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), presented Nuwagaba before court following investigations into the alleged extortion.
Prosecution alleges that in August 2026, Nuwagaba targeted a director of Double Q Company Ltd, a Chinese-owned company involved in vehicle assembly, and solicited Shs500 million from him.
Nuwagaba allegedly presented himself as an official from the Ministry of Water and Environment and claimed that the company was degrading a wetland at Nakirebe in Mpigi District.
According to the prosecution, Nuwagaba demanded the money while claiming that he could help the company’s directors prevent or frustrate possible action by authorities seeking to halt their activities at the site.
Investigators further allege that Nuwagaba worked with individuals purportedly connected to the Ministry of Water and Environment and Mpigi Magistrate’s Court to pressure the company’s directors into paying the money.
The prosecution told court that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other people allegedly involved in the scheme.
Nuwagaba was remanded to prison until September 29, 2026, when he is expected to return to court.
The allegations against him remain subject to determination by the court.
