Suspected Soroti conman faces fresh sh30m fraud claim

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A suspected conman accused of defrauding a Moroto-based businessman of sh8 million is now facing fresh allegations from a second victim, deepening a growing fraud case in eastern Uganda.

The suspect, 40-year-old Samson Epodoi, a resident of Acapa village in Mukongoro subcounty, Kumi district, is currently detained at Nakatunya Police Station in Soroti city.

Epodoi is accused of posing as a prison warden attached to Soroti Prison in Nakatunya to lure his first victim, Richard Ocen, a produce dealer in Moroto.

Police say he contacted Ocen two weeks ago, claiming he had over 120 bags of cassava flour for sale and convinced him to travel to Soroti to complete the deal, where he was allegedly conned of sh8 million.

Following a radio broadcast on Etop Radio 99.4FM in Soroti about the incident on March 19, 2026, another businesswoman, Stella Aoja from Ngora district, has come forward accusing Epodoi of defrauding her of sh30 million in a similar scheme.

Aoja, a produce dealer based in Mukura, said she travelled to Nakatunya Police Station on Friday and positively identified the suspect. She alleges that Epodoi, together with an accomplice still at large, posed as Red Cross workers and promised to connect her to a lucrative supply deal involving green grams, soya beans, millet, and groundnuts.

She recounted that on March 7, she withdrew sh30 million from Centenary Bank in the presence of Epodoi, who then led her to Pallisa district near Red Cross offices, where his associate took the money under the pretext of processing a receipt.

“They told us to wait as they finalised the paperwork, but both of them disappeared shortly after,” Aoja said.

Investigations further indicate that Epodoi previously lived in Kichinjaji in Soroti city, where he operated as a self-proclaimed pastor at God of Elijah Church before relocating to Kampala, where he reportedly stayed in different guest houses.

The Kyoga East regional police commander, Ibrahim Saiga, said Epodoi will be arraigned in court on Monday, March 23, on charges of impersonation and theft. He urged members of the public who may have been conned in a similar manner to report to police.

During interrogation, Epodoi reportedly confessed to the crimes, admitting he has been involved in fraudulent activities since 2015.

“I travelled from Kampala for this mission, but I have been unlucky. I ask for a chance to contact my friends to return the money,” he reportedly told police.

Local leaders also weighed in, with the LC1 chairperson of Aliabu cell in Kichinjaji, Betty Aguti, confirming that Epodoi was once known in the area as a pastor before he disappeared about three years ago.

Fraud remains a major concern in Uganda. Police records indicate that 218,715 fraud cases were reported in 2024, with 81,750 taken to court. Of these, 26,328 resulted in convictions, while thousands remain pending. Authorities estimate that fraud costs the country over sh3.6 trillion annually.