Lubega Institute Fee Row Deepens as Police Probe Alleged Fake Bank Slips

IGANGA, Uganda —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, with about 90 students reportedly implicated in the suspected scheme.

The investigation follows allegations raised in Parliament by Bubulo East County MP John Musila, who accused the institution of forcing parents to pay school fees twice after allegedly failing to recognise payments that had been deposited into its bank account.

However, police have given a different account of the matter, saying their investigation centres on allegations that some students presented forged Stanbic Bank deposit slips to the institution as proof of fee payment.

Police: Students allegedly presented fake bank slips

Busoga East Police spokesperson ASP Michael Kasadha said the institution reported the suspected forgery after management detected bank deposit slips that were allegedly not genuine.

Kasadha said the documents were purportedly issued in the name of one Joshua Mwesigwa, who allegedly presented himself as a bank agent.

“It was alleged that students were presenting fake Stanbic Bank deposit slips purportedly issued in the name of one Joshua Mwesigwa, who falsely claimed to be a bank agent,” Kasadha said.

According to police, approximately 90 students are suspected to have been involved in the alleged scheme.

Kasadha said investigations were opened after the complaint was lodged and that three student suspects had so far been produced in court, with the case still ongoing.

Police are also pursuing other suspects believed to have played a role in the alleged scheme.

Suspected principal suspect arrested

Kasadha said Mwesigwa, whom police describe as an alleged principal suspect and external agent, had been on the run for approximately two months before investigators tracked him down and arrested him.

He is currently being held at Iganga Central Police Station and is expected to be arraigned on charges relating to forgery, uttering forged documents and impersonation.

Police said two other suspects remain at large and that efforts to apprehend them are continuing.

Investigators have also recorded statements from the institute's management, parents and some of the affected students as part of efforts to establish how the alleged fraudulent payments were organised and processed.

The suspected forged bank slips recovered during the investigation have reportedly been submitted for forensic examination.

The examination is expected to help investigators establish whether the documents were forged and, where possible, determine their source and authenticity. 

Stakeholders meeting held

Police have also held a stakeholders' meeting involving the institute's board, parents, students and police officers to discuss the allegations and establish the facts surrounding the dispute.

Kasadha said the meeting was intended to bring together the different parties involved and allow investigators to obtain information relevant to the case.

He said police were aware of the concerns raised by MP Musila in Parliament but maintained that the matter was already under active criminal investigation.

The police spokesperson urged all parties to allow investigators to complete their work and the courts to determine the matter in accordance with the law.

“We commend the management of Lubega Institute for reporting the matter promptly instead of handling a criminal matter internally,” Kasadha said. 

Institute disputes allegations raised in Parliament

Meanwhile, Lubega Institute has rejected the allegations that it was forcing parents to pay school fees twice.

In its response, the institution said the matter was linked to suspected fraudulent fee-payment documents rather than a deliberate attempt by management to make students pay fees more than once.

The institute further identified MP John Musila as the father of a student, Malvin Khainza, whom it alleges was among the approximately 90 students identified in connection with the suspected forged bank slips.

According to the institution, parents of the students concerned were invited to a meeting to discuss the matter.

Management said Musila sent his wife to represent him at the meeting, which it said lasted approximately four hours and was attended by security personnel.

The institute said it was therefore surprised when a video of Musila raising the allegations in Parliament subsequently circulated on social media.

Dispute over student's return

The institution further alleged that Musila had insisted that his daughter be allowed to return to the institute despite the criminal investigation involving her.

Management said it believes the matter should instead be left to police and other relevant state authorities to handle in accordance with the law.

The institute maintained that it had a responsibility to protect the integrity of its academic and financial records and that the allegations involving forged payment documents required investigation rather than internal settlement.

Management also commended Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa and State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang for what it described as their objective handling of the matter during parliamentary proceedings.

Investigation continues

The controversy has placed the fee-payment dispute at the centre of scrutiny, with Parliament raising concerns over the treatment of students and parents while police investigate alleged criminal conduct involving payment documentation.

At the heart of the case is the question of whether the disputed fee payments were genuine transactions that were not properly recognised by the institution, or whether some of the documents presented as evidence of payment were deliberately forged.

Police investigations, including forensic examination of the recovered bank slips and statements from students, parents and institute officials, are expected to provide further evidence on the circumstances surrounding the disputed payments.

For now, police have urged the public and the parties involved to avoid prejudging the case, saying the investigations are ongoing and that the courts will ultimately determine the criminal allegations against the suspects.

The suspects remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.