Police Refute Espionage Claims in Case of American Woman Collecting Plastics in Ggaba
Kampala Metropolitan Police have dismissed media reports linking a 64-year-old American woman to espionage, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement on Monday, Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire refuted a New Vision article titled “Police arrest, detain American lady who picked plastics”, which alleged that he had said the suspect, Mary Grace Miller, was “linked to an espionage-related racket.”
“This is false. At no point did I make such a statement to the reporter,” Owoyesigyire said, adding that he has a record of the WhatsApp conversation with the journalist to prove he never made the remark.
According to police, the matter under investigation has no connection whatsoever to espionage. The case began after a TikTok video went viral in early August 2025, showing Miller collecting plastic bottles in Ggaba, accompanied by claims that she had been scammed and was surviving by selling the plastics.
Police at Kabalagala traced and interviewed her, discovering that she is a retired teacher who entered Uganda through the Busia border in September 2022 on a three-month visit visa, which expired on December 14, 2022. She told police she had come for a spiritual journey, often attending prayers at Ggaba Catholic Church, and had initially brought UGX 20 million for her upkeep, which has since been depleted.
Miller has been residing in Bunga in a room offered by an acquaintance. Police say there is no evidence to support online claims that she was defrauded.
She was briefly detained while consultations were held with the Directorate of Immigration and the US Embassy, before being handed over to Immigration authorities for further management.
Police have appealed to the New Vision to retract the espionage claim, warning that it not only distorts the facts but also unfairly damages the reputation of the woman by branding her as a spy.
