Iraq recruits lose sh400m to fake firms
Jul 23, 2007
THE Police are investigating reports that the director of Migral Opportunities defrauded over 700 Iraq recruits.
By F. Ahimbisibwe
THE Police are investigating reports that the director of Migral Opportunities defrauded over 700 Iraq recruits.
Sisto Andama is said to have collected money from the applicants but failed to take them for external employment. His company is located on Millennium Chambers on Entebbe Road.
Migral Opportunities has been recruiting and obtaining money from applicants but has never taken anyone to Iraq since October last year, the Police said.
The recruitment started in March this year and ended in April. The training took place in Kabale military barracks.
“There are many cases against him. He has been summoned but has not appeared. People have been complaining that he took their money but has never taken them to Iraq,†Simeo Nsubuga, the Kampala extra Police spokesperson, said yesterday.
The New Vision has obtained a list of 702 recruits, each of whom paid between sh180,000 to sh250,000 as registration fees.
A Police source said the total money obtained is about sh400m. The Police are also investigating reports that the company was using its personnel to train recruits without the knowledge of the Police chief.
On Wednesday afternoon, a group of recruits were camped at Andama’s office. “We are waiting for him to address us but he has not been in his office for days,†one of them said.
Migral Opportunities is linked to a prominent businessman as well as a junior minister in the Ministry of Labour.
One of the recruits yesterday said he was told he would go in January 2007 after paying 200,000 in November.
“When we demanded for a refund, we were threatened,†he said.
The coordinator of the security organisations, Gen. David Tinyefuza, ordered his deputy, Brig. Elly Kayanja, to investigate the scam.
“Many of these veterans are forced to sell their belongings, including livestock, to raise fees between sh0.5m and sh1m to be recruited for Iraq,†Brig. Kayanja said.
A total of 14 companies were registered for enlisting candidates but only three had sent recruits to Iraq. These were Dreshak, Askar Security Services and Two-Niles.
Kayanja recommended the withdrawal of the licences of the other companies.
THE Police are investigating reports that the director of Migral Opportunities defrauded over 700 Iraq recruits.
Sisto Andama is said to have collected money from the applicants but failed to take them for external employment. His company is located on Millennium Chambers on Entebbe Road.
Migral Opportunities has been recruiting and obtaining money from applicants but has never taken anyone to Iraq since October last year, the Police said.
The recruitment started in March this year and ended in April. The training took place in Kabale military barracks.
“There are many cases against him. He has been summoned but has not appeared. People have been complaining that he took their money but has never taken them to Iraq,†Simeo Nsubuga, the Kampala extra Police spokesperson, said yesterday.
The New Vision has obtained a list of 702 recruits, each of whom paid between sh180,000 to sh250,000 as registration fees.
A Police source said the total money obtained is about sh400m. The Police are also investigating reports that the company was using its personnel to train recruits without the knowledge of the Police chief.
On Wednesday afternoon, a group of recruits were camped at Andama’s office. “We are waiting for him to address us but he has not been in his office for days,†one of them said.
Migral Opportunities is linked to a prominent businessman as well as a junior minister in the Ministry of Labour.
One of the recruits yesterday said he was told he would go in January 2007 after paying 200,000 in November.
“When we demanded for a refund, we were threatened,†he said.
The coordinator of the security organisations, Gen. David Tinyefuza, ordered his deputy, Brig. Elly Kayanja, to investigate the scam.
“Many of these veterans are forced to sell their belongings, including livestock, to raise fees between sh0.5m and sh1m to be recruited for Iraq,†Brig. Kayanja said.
A total of 14 companies were registered for enlisting candidates but only three had sent recruits to Iraq. These were Dreshak, Askar Security Services and Two-Niles.
Kayanja recommended the withdrawal of the licences of the other companies.