Kampala Police have arrested a one Ronald Taremwa for reportedly masquerading as an officer of Special Forces Command (SFC) to collect money from jobseekers, promising them government jobs.
Taremwa was yesterday (Saturday) detained at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) after diddling Shs 5m from a one Rhona Kusasira whom he had promised a job at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) in Entebbe.
“Taremwa promised to connect Kusasira to a high ranking security official who would help her get a job at Entebbe International Airport,” said a source.
“Preliminary investigations show that upon receiving the money, Taremwa created a web of lies until his arrest on Saturday.”
Kusasira, a law graduate, told detectives that she gave Shs 5m to Taremwa in April 2023. Taremwa had promised to get her a job in a period of month.
“Taremwa asked me to meet him at a fuel station in Lubowa, Kampala where I gave him money, my passport-size photos, my Curriculum Vitae and a job application letter,” recalled Kusasira, adding, “But he kept telling me many stories.”
A desperate Kusasira later checked with UCAA where officials informed her that they had never received her job application.
Kusasira rushed to Kampala Central Police Station where she reported the matter.
Taremwa was swiftly arrested and charged with obtaining money by false pretence under case file reference number 39/15/7/2023.
Upon being interrogated by detectives and confronted with evidence, Taremwa agreed to refund Kusasira’s money.
Taremwa paid Shs 4m to Kusasira and promised to clear the balance of Shs 1m by next week.
Police are investigating reports that Taremwa has been masquerading as an officer of SFC to con many unsuspecting Ugandans by promising to use his alleged connections to get them favours from the government, including jobs.
The charge elicits a maximum punishment of five years in jail upon conviction.
Cases of conmen posing as UPDF officers to rob money from the public have been on the rise.
In 2022, Daniel Ongadia, a resident of Bugembe ward in Jinja City Northern division was arrested for masquerading as a UPDF officer and robbing money from unsuspecting civilians.
In January 2023, a UPDF imposter was arrested and charged with aggravated defilement and trafficking in children.
In March, Police in Entebbe arrested 29-year-old Moses Amanyire who has allegedly been masterminding illegal roadblocks and other violent robberies in Kampala, masquerading as a UPDF captain.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said Amanyire, a UPDF deserter, and resident of Sseguku in Makindye Ssabagabo, was the ringleader of criminals who were participating in various criminal activities in the township.
