EXPOSED!! How Ugandan Fake Doctor Has Been Using Fake Identity To Operate A Big Hospital In Kampala , How Ugandans Have Faced Hell In His Hands After Pretending To Operate Them

A recent investigation by NBS Investigates has revealed a startling case of identity theft and medical fraud in Uganda.

For over ten years, a man known as “Dr. Know Nothing” successfully pretended to be a qualified doctor, deceiving both patients and healthcare institutions.The story came to light in 2018 when Dr. Innocent Ssemanda, a real doctor and epidemiologist, discovered that someone was using his identity.

While renewing his medical licence with the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC), Dr. Ssemanda was shocked to find another person with the same credentials, registration number, and personal details.This imposter, referred to as “Ssemanda the Second,” had forged all of Dr. Ssemanda’s qualifications, including his education certificates from Makerere University.

Although the forgeries were mostly convincing, some small differences, like altered photographs and slight variations in ID details, raised suspicions.The investigation showed that “Ssemanda the Second” used his fake qualifications to get important jobs in public health. He even worked as a regional epidemiologist in Yumbe District, where he was part of Uganda’s national COVID-19 response team under a cooperative agreement with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Colleagues noticed that he lacked the necessary medical knowledge for his role, which raised alarms about the safety of public health efforts. Despite numerous complaints about him, authorities did little to investigate for many years.Experts who examined documents related to the case found clear signs of forgery.

James Ssewaya, a graphic designer from Next Media, pointed out inconsistencies in the imposter’s Annual Practicing License (APL), including tampered QR codes.”This isn’t just a mistake; it’s deliberate manipulation,” Ssewaya said.

“The fraudster carefully copied some elements while changing others.”The impact of this fraud has been severe for some victims. Barbara Kwarikunda, a young mother from Rubanda District, shared her painful experience after having surgery at Cleveland Specialised Women’s Clinic in Wampewo, where “Ssemanda the Second” allegedly operated.

“My intestines were cut, and materials were left inside me. I can’t turn or bend,” Kwarikunda explained, detailing her ongoing health problems since her surgery in March 2024.

When presented with evidence of the fraud, Dr. Diana Atwiine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, expressed her outrage.

“This is a criminal act; it’s fraud and illegal under our laws. Anyone with this evidence should report it immediately to ensure these individuals are prosecuted,” she said.

However, responses from authorities have been inconsistent. Initially, the UMDPC dismissed the case as an “error in data capture.”

Although police detained the alleged imposter at first, they later released him, saying they needed to conduct further investigations.This case highlights serious weaknesses in Uganda’s healthcare system, especially regarding how credentials are verified and how recruitment is handled.

Health rights advocate Prof Moses Mulumba pointed out that confusion over who is responsible for recruitment—whether it’s the Health Service Commission or Public Service—creates dangerous gaps.

As “Ssemanda the Second” continues to evade justice, this case raises important questions about the reliability of Uganda’s healthcare system and the risks posed to patients. With more details expected to emerge, both the public and healthcare professionals are calling for urgent reforms to prevent such incidents from happening again.

This extraordinary case serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to have strict verification processes in place within healthcare systems and the serious consequences that can arise when these systems fail.