Police in Nansana Municipality has arrested a 35-year-old said to have been impersonating Pastor Wilson Bugembe on social media.
The suspect, Wilson Baffaki, a resident of Ishaka town in the Western Region of Uganda, confessed to having used a Facebook account he opened up in Wilson Bugembe’s name to extort money from unsuspecting individuals.
Nansana Division DPC, Mr Benard Katwalo, confirmed the report, noting that Baffaki has been charged with impersonation and theft.
“He has also been raping women,” Mr Benard added.
“The successful arrest came following collaboration between police in Nansana and Mbarara,” officials said. “The suspect claimed to be born-again.”
Speaking to media reporters in Nansana, Pr Bugembe decried Baffaki’s actions. He stated that he often received notices from fans that someone was impersonating him on social media.
Many celebrities have been victims to social media scam in Uganda, yet only a few have official (real) accounts with a blue colored tick mark beside their account name.
In 2017, Facebook admitted that up to 270m accounts on the social network are illegitimate, raising questions over the social network’s integrity.
Besides Pr Bugembe, research that this reporter did with reference to popular politician and gospel icon Judith Babirye indicated that there are over 16 actively running facebook pages in her names and with her profile picture.
By Paul Dennis W.
