Suspects found with fake money in Bugiri 'part of wider racket'

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Police in Bugiri have arrested two people found in possession of counterfeit money.

The suspects are 49-year-old Ali Mutale, a resident of Nawanyingi sub-county in Iganga district, and Allan Kyemba, a 32-year-old resident of Walugogo in Iganga municipality.

Micheal Kasadha, the Busoga East Police spokesperson, said the duo were arrested in an intelligence-led operation. 

It all started with an alert from Betty Wazenda, a 46-year-old resident of Mugona village, Kapyanga sub-county in Bugiri district. 

She reported to Police that two men that she could not identify had given her counterfeit notes of five thousand Ugandan shillings, amounting to about three million shillings.

The counterfeit notes of shillings 5000. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)

“An operation was conducted and the suspects were successfully apprehended. They were travelling in a Toyota Premio motor vehicle Reg. No. UAN 003Y," said Kasadha.

Upon their arrest, Police searched the car and items of evidential value were recovered. 

Kasadha said preliminary investigations had established that the suspects are part of a wider racket of criminal gangs dealing in counterfeit money in Busoga sub-region and beyond.

“They have been on the checklist of similar criminal activities in Iganga, Bugweri and Bugiri, where they fleece and rob unsuspecting businessmen of their money."

Police are continuing with the investigations and have cautioned the public to be wary of counterfeit currency scams.