Police hold one-eyed man

Dec 03, 2007

A ONE-eyed man accused of exploiting his disability to fleece unsuspecting members of the public, has been arrested.

By Herbert Ssempogo

A ONE-eyed man accused of exploiting his disability to fleece unsuspecting members of the public, has been arrested.

Robert Byaruhanga, whose is blind in the left eye, was last week arrested in Kampala as he allegedly tried to con Siraje Mutumba, who had earlier given him sh200,000.

Police allege that Byaruhanga began his trickery in October when he approached Mutumba, who works on Ben Kiwanuka Street in Kampala.

“He told Mutumba that the person who hit his eye wanted to compensate him with sh60m but that he (Byaruhanga) had no account. He requested for money to open an account,” Kampala Extra Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga told journalists yesterday.

Touched by Byaruhanga’s plight, Mutumba reportedly gave him sh200,000.
“But that was not the end. He approached other people with the same story and got money,” Nsubuga said at the Central Police Station.

Byaruhanga’s luck ran out last week when he unknowingly returned to Mutumba and again narrated his story before requesting for money.
“Mutumba realised that he had been conned and he alerted us,” Nsubuga, who warned the public against conmen, stated.

According to Nsubuga, Byaruhanga has allegedly fleeced several people in Kampala, Kabale, Mbarara and Entebbe.
He added that Byaruhanga would be charged with obtaining money by false pretence.

However, the casually dressed Byaruhanga claimed he was framed.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,500 Police constables are to enforce security in Kampala during the festive season.

Police spokesman Asan Kasingye said they were part of the 4,000 member team deployed in Kampala during the Commonwealth meeting (CHOGM).

“Some people think that they can terrorise city residents because CHGOM has ended. This will not occur.”

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