Four arrested over fake money

Police in Mbarara has arrested four people in possession of counterfeit money totalling to sh230m.

Police identified the suspects as Jabel Igga,43, a resident of Masaka district, Paul Mugabi, 24, a water tank driver in Juba South Sudan who is also a resident of Birere- Isingiro district.

Others are Abdul-Aziz Tongirwe a resident of Rwashamair-Ntungamo district and Allan Abangira, 25, from Kanungu district.

Jabel was arrested at Cairo Bank Mbarara branch exchanging counterfeit dollars while Abdul-Aziz was picked at Liverpool betting centre with many of sh50, 000 notes.

Igga, one of these suspects testified that he has been in the business for many years and conducts his business at north Kivu -Goma on Rwanda-DR Congo border taking advantage of Congolese who have no knowledge about the Ugandan currency.

The other three suspects Mugabi, Abangira and Twongirwe had notes of US dollars, Francs, shillings and traditional medicine claiming they are witch doctors helping people to get rich.

The Mbarara OC-CID Taban Chiriga said police was tipped by the whistle blowers about the group and were all rounded up in Nyamityobora lower cell Kakoba division in Mbarara municipality on Friday.

The RDC Martha Asiimwe said the group was arrested twice and released by police after receiving bribes but promised to deal with the police officers who will try to release them before being taken to court.

"As police you're a helping hand in this case, you're not supposed to promote crime by releasing suspects before taking them to court; so as a chief of security I am ready to deal with you in this matter," she warned.

Meanwhile OC-CID Taban assured journalists that the four suspects will be taken to court and charged of possession of counterfeits.