Prisons job-seeking Ugandans warned against conmen

KAMPALA - The Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) has issued a stern warning to job seekers following reports of fraudsters impersonating officials to extort money from those hoping to join the service.

UPS spokesperson Frank Baine told New Vision Online that recruitment for warders and wardresses concluded recently, with training now underway. He cautioned the public against falling prey to scams: “UPS takes no responsibility for victims of these fraudulent schemes.”

Con artists are contacting unsuspecting Ugandans, promising guaranteed recruitment into UPS in exchange for payments. Baine urged applicants to disregard such calls, stressing that all legitimate processes are transparent and do not require upfront fees.

The warning comes amid lingering fallout from the infamous Cowe investment scam, which defrauded over 3,000 Ugandans nearly a decade ago.

Primary school teacher John Byaruhanga lost shillings 70 million he invested alongside his wife, crippling their family finances.

“I cried when the school first refused to admit my children due to unpaid fees,” said Byaruhanga, now secretary of the Cowe victims’ taskforce. “I used to drive them to school and pay fees promptly. Now, even that is a struggle.”

UPS spokesperson Frank Baine

Overcrowded job markets  

The desperation for employment has created fertile ground for scams. In the health sector alone, over 1,400 doctors recently applied for just 16 vacancies advertised by the Health Service Commission.

Dr Henry Mwebasa, the commission’s chairperson, revealed that nearly half were disqualified for missing mandatory documents like practising licences, IDs, or academic transcripts.

Worse, some candidates reported being conned by scammers offering “interview questions” in exchange for money. “This highlights how fraudsters exploit urgency and hope in competitive job markets,” said Mwebasa.

Both UPS and the Health Service Commission have urged applicants to:

• Verify job offers through official channels.

• Ignore unsolicited calls demanding payments.

• Report suspected scams to authorities.

“These scams thrive on desperation. We urge victims to come forward instead of paying ransoms,” Baine added.

John Byaruhanga’s story underscores the stakes: “Our savings vanished overnight. Now, my children’s education is on hold. Don’t repeat our mistake.”