Suspected Impostor Arrested At Lubaga Cathedral After Easter Mass

A man accused of impersonating a Catholic priest and scamming Christians out of money following Easter Sunday Mass at Lubaga Cathedral in Kampala is in police custody. The suspect, identified as Peter Mutebi, was caught wearing clerical attire with the intent to deceive worshippers. 

Lay leaders had previously reported him for donning priestly shirts during public events. His arrest has prompted an investigation into possible charges of fraud and impersonation. Following his detention by security personnel, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere approached Mutebi with concern, inquiring about how he had obtained the clerical-style shirt and whether he was knowingly impersonating a priest.

During questioning, Mutebi claimed to be a devout Catholic and a dobi (laundry worker), and insisted he did not know the shirt was associated with priests. “I got the shirt from someone who brought clothes for washing and gave it to me,” Mutebi said. “I didn’t know it belongs to priests. I’m just ignorant about the difference in clerical clothing. Please forgive me.”

//Cue in: “Nze essati…”

Cue out: “…bampa, munsonyiwe.”//

Timothy Muwonge, a youth leader at Lubaga, reported receiving multiple complaints from congregants about individuals falsely soliciting money in the name of the Archbishop’s welfare. “He wears various priestly attires during crowded festivals, taking advantage of the anonymity to collect money, claiming it’s for the Archbishop and other clergy members,” Muwonge said. 

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrest, noting that Mutebi is being held at Lubaga Police Post on charges of impersonation and obtaining money by false pretenses. Investigators are working to establish how much money he may have collected through these alleged scams.

The arrest follows a February warning issued by the Kampala Archdiocese, cautioning the Catholic community about impostors. Rev. Fr. Joseph Mukiibi, the Archdiocese's Director of Communication and Public Relations, had alerted the faithful to cases of individuals impersonating priests across various parishes.