Police parades top city conmen
Oct 31, 2010
THE Police in Kampala on Saturday paraded three suspected top city conmen who allegedly conspired to extort and defraud Hima Cement of sh10m.
By Andante Okanya and Eddie Ssejjoba
THE Police in Kampala on Saturday paraded three suspected top city conmen who allegedly conspired to extort and defraud Hima Cement of sh10m.
The suspects are Humphrey Rugambanengwe, Robert Ndyomugyenyi, and Alfred Twehangane. They were paraded before journalists during a press conference at the Central Police Station by the acting Police spokesperson, Vincent Ssekate.
It is alleged that on October 21, Rugambanengwe, the key suspect, made a phone call to the company’s general manager, David Njoroge, claiming he had been instructed to investigate illegal exportation of cement to Congo by one of the company’s customers, Maison Mbisa.
Ssekate said Rugambanengwe contacted the company boss, claiming to be an intelligence officer attached to the President’s office.
Ssekate narrated that Njoroge, who was scared of the anonymous call, referred Rugambanengwe to the commercial manager, Dennis Kashero for further clarification.
Rugambanengwe and Ndyomugyenyi reportedly arranged a meeting with Kashero at the Kampala Serena Hotel and asked him whether he had seen the letter from the tourism trade minister, Kahinda Otafiire, instructing them to carry out investigations on the matter.
Ssekate said the suspects demanded for sh10m from Kashero, claiming it was for them to write a report and make an opinion that would be in the company’s favour.
It is said that when Kashero refused to bow to the demands, they reduced the money to sh5m. Rugambanengwe posed as David, while Ndyomugyenyi posed as Derry.
Kashero, having suspected something was amiss, “wondered why the company had to part with money†for investigations to be carried out.
He sought advice from a contract staff at the company, Ambrose Byona, who identified Rugambanengwe as a top city conman. A trap was then set.
On October 26, Police officers were dispatched to the company’s offices in Kampala to liaise with company officials to lay the trap.
Ssekate further narrated that Ndyomugyenyi was arrested in Bukoto after he was trapped spending $500 (about sh1.1m) that was put in an envelope.
On their way from Bukoto, the Police were told that another suspect, Twehangane, was waiting at the company’s reception, ready to receive the money.
After the two were arrested, they led the Police to the Kampala Sheraton Hotel, where Rugambanengwe was arrested, subjected to a thorough body search, and found with the purported letter from the minister.
Ssekate said the suspects, now being held at the Police Rapid Response Unit in Kireka office, would soon be produced in court. He said they would be charged with extortion, impersonation, forgery and uttering false documents.
THE Police in Kampala on Saturday paraded three suspected top city conmen who allegedly conspired to extort and defraud Hima Cement of sh10m.
The suspects are Humphrey Rugambanengwe, Robert Ndyomugyenyi, and Alfred Twehangane. They were paraded before journalists during a press conference at the Central Police Station by the acting Police spokesperson, Vincent Ssekate.
It is alleged that on October 21, Rugambanengwe, the key suspect, made a phone call to the company’s general manager, David Njoroge, claiming he had been instructed to investigate illegal exportation of cement to Congo by one of the company’s customers, Maison Mbisa.
Ssekate said Rugambanengwe contacted the company boss, claiming to be an intelligence officer attached to the President’s office.
Ssekate narrated that Njoroge, who was scared of the anonymous call, referred Rugambanengwe to the commercial manager, Dennis Kashero for further clarification.
Rugambanengwe and Ndyomugyenyi reportedly arranged a meeting with Kashero at the Kampala Serena Hotel and asked him whether he had seen the letter from the tourism trade minister, Kahinda Otafiire, instructing them to carry out investigations on the matter.
Ssekate said the suspects demanded for sh10m from Kashero, claiming it was for them to write a report and make an opinion that would be in the company’s favour.
It is said that when Kashero refused to bow to the demands, they reduced the money to sh5m. Rugambanengwe posed as David, while Ndyomugyenyi posed as Derry.
Kashero, having suspected something was amiss, “wondered why the company had to part with money†for investigations to be carried out.
He sought advice from a contract staff at the company, Ambrose Byona, who identified Rugambanengwe as a top city conman. A trap was then set.
On October 26, Police officers were dispatched to the company’s offices in Kampala to liaise with company officials to lay the trap.
Ssekate further narrated that Ndyomugyenyi was arrested in Bukoto after he was trapped spending $500 (about sh1.1m) that was put in an envelope.
On their way from Bukoto, the Police were told that another suspect, Twehangane, was waiting at the company’s reception, ready to receive the money.
After the two were arrested, they led the Police to the Kampala Sheraton Hotel, where Rugambanengwe was arrested, subjected to a thorough body search, and found with the purported letter from the minister.
Ssekate said the suspects, now being held at the Police Rapid Response Unit in Kireka office, would soon be produced in court. He said they would be charged with extortion, impersonation, forgery and uttering false documents.