NIRA staff impersonator netted conning woman

FRAUD

KAMPALA- A Travel and clearing agent who pretended to be a National Identification and Registration Authority, (NIRA) staff member has been apprehended for purportedly soliciting over sh170,000 from a desperate youth.

Musa Walugembe aged 30, a resident of Mengo was caught red handed by surveillance civilian clothed security officials as he allegedly received money from Joyce Ritah Nakacwa, aged 30, a resident of Nabbingo in Wakiso district.

Nakacwa told the New vision that she lost her national identification and applied for a new one. However since 2015, she has been coming to NIRA offices to obtain a new national identification card but in vain.

Musa Walugembe (left) seating in the pavilion with clients waiting to replace their national identity cards at National Identification and Registration Authority offices, Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

Since Nakacwa could not process her passport without a confirmation letter from NIRA, on Wednesday, Walugembe approached her at Kololo and promised to give her a letter to take to the passport office if she paid sh500,000.

 Nakacwa said, "I have been coming here more than four times. The first time I came, I was told to go to Nsangi. The second time I was told to go to Wakiso district. The third time I was asked to bring a letter from the chairman and also provide both national identifications of my dead parents which I didn't have."

Nakacwa lamented that out of desperation, she paid Walugembe to assist her obtain the letter.

(Left to Right) Musa Walugembe , the impersonator being escorted by Captain Terman Kachemba after interrogation. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

In order to curb the vice, Michael Muganga, the Public Relations Assistant at NIRA said, spies were planted among clients to catch people who pretend to be NIRA officials and extort money from the public.

"Since hundreds of people turn up every day to receive different services like, replacing national IDs with errors ,birth certificate, death certificate, confirmation of letters among others, unscrupulous people mix up with clients and take advantage of their desperation and dupe them," explained Muganga.

According to Captain Terman Kachemba, a security manager at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, once they received complaints from the public about NIRA officials receiving bribes, their anti-corruption unit was involved and deployed spies to mix with clients in order to catch people who receive bribes. 

Since Walugembe has always been coming to NIRA offices and seating in the pavilion, Kachemba said, "When I saw him with a file with registration forms, I interrogated him and he confirmed that he was helping a lady at an agreed cost to process her paper work."

During police interrogation, Walugembe disclosed that he had helped so many people get national identity cards and also renew their passports. 

Joyce Ritah Nakacwa breaks down during an interview at National Identification and Registration Authority offices. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

"I'm a clearing agent and a youth leader in Kampala. Our main offices are based in Malaba. We help people at an agreed cost," said Walugembe.

Muganga urged the public to be vigilant and watch out for conmen who solicit money from them to receive quick services. He said every activity that attracts a fee from NIRA should be paid in the bank.