Victims in Asiimwe fraud case hit 655, losses top sh2b
Kawala said the number of complainants continues to grow as investigators record statements from individuals who claim to have lost money in the alleged job recruitment scheme.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)
_____________
The number of victims in the alleged sh2b fraud case involving socialite Christian Asiimwe, also known as Don Chris, has risen to 655, police have revealed.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said the number of complainants continues to grow as investigators record statements from individuals who claim to have lost money in the alleged job recruitment scheme.
“We have over 655 victims who have come forward, and we have recorded their statements. It is alleged that the money obtained is over sh2b,” Kawala said during the weekly security briefing at Uganda police Force headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday (August 31).
She added that investigations into the offence of obtaining money by false pretences are actively ongoing.
“There are different case files, and we are going to forward them to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for possible sanctioning,” she noted, adding that Asiimwe is expected to appear in court once the necessary legal processes are completed.
The alleged scam
According to police, the alleged fraud operated between 2022 and 2025.
Asiimwe, the former director of the now-defunct Skypin Labour Recruitment agency and proprietor of Skypin Tours and Travel, allegedly promised victims jobs as cleaners, waiters, and caregivers in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Dubai.
To secure the purported placements, victims reportedly paid between sh5m and sh10m each.
While verified losses currently stand at over sh2b, preliminary police estimates suggest the total amount defrauded could ultimately reach up to sh5b.
Police appeal
Investigators are continuing to record statements and trace the flow of funds to establish the full scale of the alleged fraud.
Police have urged any other affected persons, who have not yet reported to the authorities to come forward to the nearest police station.
Complainants are advised to present payment receipts, bank statements, and any other relevant documents to help investigators establish exactly how much money was collected and how the operation was structured.
Obtaining money by false pretences is an offence under Section 305 of the Penal Code Act.
A person convicted of the offence faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.