By Yusuf Obbo
Police in Iganga have opened investigations into allegations of forgery, uttering forged documents, obtaining money by false pretences and impersonation at Lubega Institute of Nursing and Health Professionals.
The investigation follows concerns raised in Parliament by Bubulo County Member of Parliament, Hon. John Musira, who reportedly claimed that more than 300 students had been defrauded by the institution.
However, the institute has strongly rejected the allegations, saying the information presented in Parliament is inaccurate and has demanded an apology from the legislator.
According to Busoga East Police spokesperson ASP Michael Kasadha, police received a report from the institute’s management on September 9, 2026, concerning suspected forged bank payment slips allegedly presented by some students.
Kasadha said preliminary investigations indicate that some students presented what appeared to be fake Stanbic Bank deposit slips, purportedly issued in the name of a man identified as Mwesigwa Joshua, who allegedly presented himself as a bank agent.
Police investigations reportedly established that the man could not be traced at the location indicated and was not a registered bank agent.
Kasadha said the initial investigation focused on three students suspected of being involved in the alleged scheme, as police sought to establish how the documents were obtained and used.
Police have since identified two principal suspects — Kisati Joan, a former student of the institute, and Mwesigwa Joshua, also known as Kirya Abbey Trevor.
According to police, the two suspects had reportedly been on the run for about two months before they were arrested and are now assisting investigators.
Other suspects are still being sought, police said.
Kasadha added that statements have been recorded from affected students, parents and institute administrators. Some parents and students reportedly told investigators that they had been misled by fellow students.
The management of Lubega Institute has disputed the figure of more than 300 students reportedly cited in Parliament.
Dr. Lubega Muhammad, the owner of the institute, said the institution’s records indicate that about 80 students are allegedly connected to the suspected fraud.
He said the institution believes the 80 students are suspected of having caused losses of approximately Shs180 million, rather than the figure of more than 300 students mentioned in Parliament.
Dr. Lubega accused the legislator of presenting information that, according to the institution’s records, does not reflect the facts surrounding the matter.
“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the decision by the Honourable Member to go onto the floor of Parliament and make allegations that, according to the information and records available to us, are inaccurate,” Dr. Lubega said.
He said public officials have a responsibility to establish facts before making serious allegations that could damage the reputation of individuals or institutions.
Dr. Lubega acknowledged that MPs enjoy parliamentary privilege for statements made in Parliament but argued that such privilege should not, in the institution’s view, be used to disregard facts or damage the reputation of an institution.
The institute said it is prepared to pursue legal and institutional avenues if what it considers false information about the school continues to be circulated.
“If necessary, we shall pursue the appropriate legal and institutional channels available to us to ensure that the facts are established and that the interests of the institution are protected,” Dr. Lubega said.
The institution has called on Hon. Musira to work with its administrators and relevant authorities to establish what actually happened.
The institute’s administrators have also alleged that Hon. Musira’s daughter, who they say was a student at the institution, is among those implicated in the suspected fraud.
According to the administrators, she is alleged to have caused a loss of about Shs2 million to the institution.
The institute has called on the MP to cooperate with school administrators and police in resolving the matter, rather than making statements that it says could damage the institution’s reputation.
The allegations against the MP’s daughter have not been established by a court, and investigations by police are still ongoing.
The institute says efforts are underway to recover the alleged losses, with parents of students implicated in the matter being engaged in discussions on possible ways of restoring the money to the school’s accounts.
Police say their investigations are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraud, identify all persons involved and recover any funds that may have been obtained through fraudulent means.
The dispute has now placed the allegations made in Parliament and the institute’s version of events under scrutiny as police continue with investigations.
