Two daring fraudsters who posed as flashy Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu, aka Ham, have been busted and fined by court.

Frank Sempa, a hawker, and Babu Maniharah, a builder, were paraded before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, where they pleaded guilty to charges of impersonation and fraud. The duo had been masquerading as the loaded tycoon behind Ham Enterprises Ltd, duping unsuspecting Ugandans with fake promises of loans and financial help.

Thanks to a plea bargain deal with the state, the pair escaped harsh jail time but were ordered to pay fines , Shs300,000 for Sempa and Shs600,000 for Maniharah, or face six months behind bars if they default.

“You are hereby convicted on your own plea of guilty,” ruled Magistrate Kayizzi

He confirmed that the deal had been reached with full consent of the accused and their lawyer.

In a twist, Sempa was also ordered to refund Shs50,000 he had swindled from a one Shafiq Kawooya by pretending to be Ham and promising to secure him a juicy loan.

Prosecutor Ivan Kyazze told court that both men were first-time offenders with no criminal past and had agreed to become state witnesses in the ongoing crackdown on the impersonation ring.

Just days earlier, Ruth Nandase, an 18-year-old student, was also fined Shs100,000 after pleading guilty to the same con, posing as Ham Kiggundu to cheat people online.

According to court records, this slick scam has been running from 2023 to early 2024, with several suspects still on the run. The group used social media and fake calls to pose as the tycoon, offering cash deals and loans , all for a “small processing fee.”

Another accused, Ronald Mwandha, rejected the plea deal and remains in custody, awaiting trial.

And it doesn’t end there! One victim, identified only as Serugo, told court how he was duped on TikTok by someone claiming to be Ham promising him cash support if he paid a “security deposit.” The number later went off. Just like the scam.

Investigations are still ongoing as police hunt for more members of this growing impersonation gang.