Have you seen these people? Dial 999
Dec 04, 2009
THE Police are looking for 17 suspected con-artists, who disappeared after they were released on bail.The Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, said many of them had been arrested for obtaining money by false pretences.
By Ben Okiror
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THE Police are looking for 17 suspected con-artists, who disappeared after they were released on bail.The Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, said many of them had been arrested for obtaining money by false pretences.
“The money they pay for bail is less than the money they are accused of stealing and that encourages them to jump bail,†she told Saturday Vision.
She said the total number of conmen is higher, but some people, especially high-profile victims, fear to report cases to the Police. If everybody would expose these conmen, others would be more cautious, she said. Because of fear of publicity, she observed, high-profile people are an easy target for swindlers.
Citing the case of Humphrey Rugambanengwe, a perennial conman, Nabakooba said he is well-known and used to operate a law firm on Metropole House before his practicing licence was revoked.
Currently on the run, Rugambanengwe is alleged to have obtained sh50m from American professor Richard Alex Heard whom he promised a deal with the Government “to sensitise Ugandans on the regional tier system of government.â€
He is also said to have conned and impersonated several top Government officials.
Another suspect, Hakiim Mpagi, alias Musa, is accused of obtaining sh21m from his girlfriend, Maimuna Nakigozi, under false pretence.
The suspect reportedly promised to double the amount but instead disappeared with it. Because the money belonged to her sister, Nakigozi is now in Luzira.
Mpagi, who the Police say is on the run, is often seen around Cooper Complex in the city centre, as well as Kibuye and Ndeeba suburbs.
Another woman on the run is Betty Bakileke who impersonated Teopista Ndaazi, a land owner.
After forging a land title in Ndaazi’s name, Bakileke allegedly sold it to another person for sh65m.
When the buyer sought verification from the lands registry, Bakileke accompanied him, but was arrested after it became clear the title was fake. She vanished after being released on Police bond and is believed to be around Masaka.
Another suspect on the run is Jimmy Mukasa of Sultan village, Nakasero, who is accused of attempting to obtain $8,100 (sh15m) from abroad by false pretence.
According to the Police, there is an increasing trend of suspects jumping either Police bond or court bail, particularly those accused of issuing false cheques.
For example, Duncan Miti, a director of Duncan Investments, was accused of issuing a false cheque worth sh9.5m. He disappeared after getting bail by Buganda Road Court.
Similarly, Solomon Chaplan Lui, a Sudanese national, jumped bond after being arrested for issuing a false cheque for $59,647 (sh112m) in the name of his company, Public Warehousing Company.
Two other suspects, John Muwanguzi, alias Robert Mugalu, and Peter Kafuma, alias Matthew Kasasira, jumped bail and their sureties changed contacts.
The two were accused of several offences, including theft of a cheque worth sh27m, forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining money by false pretence.
Not only individuals lose money to fraudsters. Companies, too, fall prey to schemers, who sometimes hide among their own employees. Justine Mutaali, a former sales executive of 3R International, embezzled sh24m from his employer.
Others who defrauded their bosses and are currently on the run are Lillian Nakajubi, who embezzled sh28m from BRAC, Diana Nanyonjo, a cashier with MTN accused of stealing sh10m, and Josiah Muyomba, a cashier at Equity bank in Mubende.
Another category of people on the run are robbers, especially security guards who turn their guns on the people they are supposed to guard.
One of them is Rayon Mpanga, who is accused of stealing sh1.2m from College Inn, Wandegeya, where he used to work.
Others are John Musisi and Bendicto Kato, who are wanted for aggravated robbery of sh1.7m and a phone. Faith Nassali is accused of stealing sh5m, while Abdu Ssebiccu is wanted for stealing a Fuso vehicle and the log book of another vehicle.
Asked why the Police find it difficult to apprehend suspects, Nabakooba said most people relocate to other parts of the country, where they continue their fraudulent practices. “A suspect can run to another village or town and establish a business there,†she said.
Nabakooba, however, blamed the desire by some people for easy money, noting that fraudsters all the time come up with new tricks. She urged the public to call the Police when they spot one of the wanted suspects.
How they made it to the list of conmen
SOLOMON CHAPLAN LUI
E/225/09 CID H/Q
Lui is a Sudanese businessman, and a resident of Muyenga Central zone. He contracted an international construction company called Damanico Properties Ltd to build hotel cottages in southern Sudan.
 The complainants say Lui had agreed to pay them an equivalent of sh800m, but he allegedly refused to honour the figure later. After he was reported to Police and arrested, the two parties settled out of court and Lui agreed to pay sh300m.
Through his company, the Public Warehousing Co. Ltd, Lui paid the first instalment using a cheque of $58,823 (about sh110m). However, the second cheque of $59,647 bounced.
The complainants went back to the Police and reported that the suspect had fled back to southern Sudan after jumping Police bond.
Recent reports indicate that he is in Uganda currently, although Police sources say his phone is off. His sureties include his wife, Maria Lui Asio, Jack Enock Iyee and Francis Tako, an employee from the President’s office.
HUMPHREY RUGAMBANENGWE
GEF 482/09 CID H/Q
He allegedly deceived Dr. Richard Heard that he had secured a contract from the Government to prepare a draft Regional Tier Bill for which he would be paid $120,000.
 Rugambanengwe was able to convince Dr. Heard because their wives are cousins. He was also of presenting forged correspondences between him and Dr. Khiddu Makubuya, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Attorney General.
One of the letters purported that the suspect’s law firm, Rugambanengwe and Company Advocates had been awarded a contract to be funded by DANIDA-funded Justice and Law Order Sector.
The suspect allegedly asked Dr. Heard to invest sh30m in the process so that he would later be paid half of the contract pay as share of profits ($62,383) since he was an equal partner. This would be the balance after $58,617 was to be deducted as costs for paying 78 field researchers, one per district and consultants.
After sometime, Rugambanengwe allegedly went back to Dr. Heard, saying the project that was earlier supposed to end by January 19,2007 had delayed and sh20m would be needed to expedite its completion. He promised to increase Dr. Heard’s share from $31,191 to $49,131.
But before that Dr. Heard had hired the suspect as a lawyer to help him secure a work permit and a visa. He was paid $1,000 permit fee and sh300,000 for his legal fees. However, when Dr. Heard came back from a trip abroad, he was told that the visa was fake.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
According to the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1998, a false pretence is defined as “any representation made by words, writing or conduct, of a matter of fact, either past or present, which representation is false in fact, and which the person making it knows to be false or does not believe to be true.â€
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Section 289: Obtaining goods by false pretences
Any person, who, by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.
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Section 290: Obtaining execution of a security by false pretence
Any person who, by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, induces any person to execute, make, accept, endorse, alter or destroy the whole or any part of any valuable security or to write any name or impress or affix any seal upon or to any paper or parchment in order that it may be afterwards made or converted into or used or dealt with as a valuable security, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years.
Â
Section 294: Frauds on sale or mortgage of property
Any person who, being a seller or mortgagor of any property or being the advocate or agent of any such seller or mortgagor, with intent to induce the purchaser or mortgagee to accept the title offered or produced to him, and with intent to defraud – conceals from the purchaser or mortgagee any instrument material to the title, or any encumbrance; or falsifies any pedigree on which the title depends or may depend; or makes any false statement as to the title offered or conceals any fact materials thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years.
Â
THE Police are looking for 17 suspected con-artists, who disappeared after they were released on bail.The Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, said many of them had been arrested for obtaining money by false pretences.
“The money they pay for bail is less than the money they are accused of stealing and that encourages them to jump bail,†she told Saturday Vision.
She said the total number of conmen is higher, but some people, especially high-profile victims, fear to report cases to the Police. If everybody would expose these conmen, others would be more cautious, she said. Because of fear of publicity, she observed, high-profile people are an easy target for swindlers.
Citing the case of Humphrey Rugambanengwe, a perennial conman, Nabakooba said he is well-known and used to operate a law firm on Metropole House before his practicing licence was revoked.
Currently on the run, Rugambanengwe is alleged to have obtained sh50m from American professor Richard Alex Heard whom he promised a deal with the Government “to sensitise Ugandans on the regional tier system of government.â€
He is also said to have conned and impersonated several top Government officials.
Another suspect, Hakiim Mpagi, alias Musa, is accused of obtaining sh21m from his girlfriend, Maimuna Nakigozi, under false pretence.
The suspect reportedly promised to double the amount but instead disappeared with it. Because the money belonged to her sister, Nakigozi is now in Luzira.
Mpagi, who the Police say is on the run, is often seen around Cooper Complex in the city centre, as well as Kibuye and Ndeeba suburbs.
Another woman on the run is Betty Bakileke who impersonated Teopista Ndaazi, a land owner.
After forging a land title in Ndaazi’s name, Bakileke allegedly sold it to another person for sh65m.
When the buyer sought verification from the lands registry, Bakileke accompanied him, but was arrested after it became clear the title was fake. She vanished after being released on Police bond and is believed to be around Masaka.
Another suspect on the run is Jimmy Mukasa of Sultan village, Nakasero, who is accused of attempting to obtain $8,100 (sh15m) from abroad by false pretence.
According to the Police, there is an increasing trend of suspects jumping either Police bond or court bail, particularly those accused of issuing false cheques.
For example, Duncan Miti, a director of Duncan Investments, was accused of issuing a false cheque worth sh9.5m. He disappeared after getting bail by Buganda Road Court.
Similarly, Solomon Chaplan Lui, a Sudanese national, jumped bond after being arrested for issuing a false cheque for $59,647 (sh112m) in the name of his company, Public Warehousing Company.
Two other suspects, John Muwanguzi, alias Robert Mugalu, and Peter Kafuma, alias Matthew Kasasira, jumped bail and their sureties changed contacts.
The two were accused of several offences, including theft of a cheque worth sh27m, forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining money by false pretence.
Not only individuals lose money to fraudsters. Companies, too, fall prey to schemers, who sometimes hide among their own employees. Justine Mutaali, a former sales executive of 3R International, embezzled sh24m from his employer.
Others who defrauded their bosses and are currently on the run are Lillian Nakajubi, who embezzled sh28m from BRAC, Diana Nanyonjo, a cashier with MTN accused of stealing sh10m, and Josiah Muyomba, a cashier at Equity bank in Mubende.
Another category of people on the run are robbers, especially security guards who turn their guns on the people they are supposed to guard.
One of them is Rayon Mpanga, who is accused of stealing sh1.2m from College Inn, Wandegeya, where he used to work.
Others are John Musisi and Bendicto Kato, who are wanted for aggravated robbery of sh1.7m and a phone. Faith Nassali is accused of stealing sh5m, while Abdu Ssebiccu is wanted for stealing a Fuso vehicle and the log book of another vehicle.
Asked why the Police find it difficult to apprehend suspects, Nabakooba said most people relocate to other parts of the country, where they continue their fraudulent practices. “A suspect can run to another village or town and establish a business there,†she said.
Nabakooba, however, blamed the desire by some people for easy money, noting that fraudsters all the time come up with new tricks. She urged the public to call the Police when they spot one of the wanted suspects.
How they made it to the list of conmen
SOLOMON CHAPLAN LUI
E/225/09 CID H/Q
Lui is a Sudanese businessman, and a resident of Muyenga Central zone. He contracted an international construction company called Damanico Properties Ltd to build hotel cottages in southern Sudan.
 The complainants say Lui had agreed to pay them an equivalent of sh800m, but he allegedly refused to honour the figure later. After he was reported to Police and arrested, the two parties settled out of court and Lui agreed to pay sh300m.
Through his company, the Public Warehousing Co. Ltd, Lui paid the first instalment using a cheque of $58,823 (about sh110m). However, the second cheque of $59,647 bounced.
The complainants went back to the Police and reported that the suspect had fled back to southern Sudan after jumping Police bond.
Recent reports indicate that he is in Uganda currently, although Police sources say his phone is off. His sureties include his wife, Maria Lui Asio, Jack Enock Iyee and Francis Tako, an employee from the President’s office.
HUMPHREY RUGAMBANENGWE
GEF 482/09 CID H/Q
He allegedly deceived Dr. Richard Heard that he had secured a contract from the Government to prepare a draft Regional Tier Bill for which he would be paid $120,000.
 Rugambanengwe was able to convince Dr. Heard because their wives are cousins. He was also of presenting forged correspondences between him and Dr. Khiddu Makubuya, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Attorney General.
One of the letters purported that the suspect’s law firm, Rugambanengwe and Company Advocates had been awarded a contract to be funded by DANIDA-funded Justice and Law Order Sector.
The suspect allegedly asked Dr. Heard to invest sh30m in the process so that he would later be paid half of the contract pay as share of profits ($62,383) since he was an equal partner. This would be the balance after $58,617 was to be deducted as costs for paying 78 field researchers, one per district and consultants.
After sometime, Rugambanengwe allegedly went back to Dr. Heard, saying the project that was earlier supposed to end by January 19,2007 had delayed and sh20m would be needed to expedite its completion. He promised to increase Dr. Heard’s share from $31,191 to $49,131.
But before that Dr. Heard had hired the suspect as a lawyer to help him secure a work permit and a visa. He was paid $1,000 permit fee and sh300,000 for his legal fees. However, when Dr. Heard came back from a trip abroad, he was told that the visa was fake.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
According to the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1998, a false pretence is defined as “any representation made by words, writing or conduct, of a matter of fact, either past or present, which representation is false in fact, and which the person making it knows to be false or does not believe to be true.â€
Â
Section 289: Obtaining goods by false pretences
Any person, who, by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.
Â
Section 290: Obtaining execution of a security by false pretence
Any person who, by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, induces any person to execute, make, accept, endorse, alter or destroy the whole or any part of any valuable security or to write any name or impress or affix any seal upon or to any paper or parchment in order that it may be afterwards made or converted into or used or dealt with as a valuable security, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years.
Â
Section 294: Frauds on sale or mortgage of property
Any person who, being a seller or mortgagor of any property or being the advocate or agent of any such seller or mortgagor, with intent to induce the purchaser or mortgagee to accept the title offered or produced to him, and with intent to defraud – conceals from the purchaser or mortgagee any instrument material to the title, or any encumbrance; or falsifies any pedigree on which the title depends or may depend; or makes any false statement as to the title offered or conceals any fact materials thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years.