A teacher accused of masquerading as a senior official in the Ministry of Education and Sports and obtaining millions of shillings from parents by promising to secure school vacancies for their children has been charged and remanded to prison.
Duncan Keith Ayebare, 48, a teacher and resident of Gita-Nangabo in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiiko on charges of obtaining money by false pretences and personation.
When the charges were read to him, Ayebare admitted receiving money from some parents and securing a vacancy at a school.
However, the trial magistrate entered a plea of not guilty and remanded him until June 24, when he will appear before the trial Chief Magistrate for further proceedings.
According to the charge sheet, Ayebare allegedly obtained Shs1.4 million from Gilbert Siima in January 2026 after falsely claiming that he would secure a vacancy for his son, Benson Mugenyi, at Ntare School.
Prosecution further alleges that during the same period, he obtained another Shs1.2 million from Ann Kukunda on the promise that he would secure admission for her son, Julius Tumusiime, at the prestigious Mbarara-based school.
The state contends that the promises were false and were made with the intention of defrauding the parents.
Ayebare is also facing a charge of personation. The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2026, he falsely presented himself to members of the public as a commissioner from the Ministry of Education and Sports.
According to the court records, Ayebare, who worked as a consultant with Bridge International, became acquainted with Mr Alfred Kyaka, an Assistant Commissioner in the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The prosecution alleges that he later used that association to misrepresent himself as a commissioner attached to the Office of the First Lady and, at times, a State House employee.
It is further stated that Ayebare leveraged the alleged false identity to gain public trust and was invited to officiate at several school functions as a guest of honour or chief guest.
Among the schools where he reportedly presided over events are Lubiri Secondary School, Gayaza Junior School Jungo Campus and Mbarara Junior School.
The prosecution further alleges that he used his purported influence within government to solicit money from parents whose children had completed Primary Seven, promising to secure vacancies in highly sought-after government schools.
According to the state, intelligence reports later revealed that Ayebare was an impostor.
“Through intelligence gathering, it was discovered that Ayebare was a masquerader and impersonator,” court documents state in the case file.
During interrogation, prosecutors say Ayebare admitted presiding over school functions and receiving money from at least three parents while claiming to be an official from the Ministry of Education and Sports.
He allegedly used a ministry vehicle and a driver assigned to Assistant Commissioner Mr Kyaka during some of the activities under investigation.