30 Ugandans conned in Dubai job scam
Jul 26, 2015
A local employment agency is in trouble after failing to secure jobs for over 30 Ugandans in the Middle East.
By Brian Mayanja
A local employment agency is in trouble after failing to secure jobs for over 30 Ugandans in the Middle East.
The job seekers paid between sh640,000 and sh1.6m to Mixed Link (U), which was subcontracted by Brokers Services, an employment agency in Dubai, to recruit Ugandans.
Those who wanted to be security guards, cleaners and mechanics, had to pay $500 (about sh1.7m). Drivers and conductors paid $200 (about sh640,000).
In May, the recruited groups started putting pressure on Haawa Namatovu and Rashid Karenzi, who are linked to Mixed Link, demanding a refund of their money. When Namatovu contacted Feysal Hassan Hadad, one of the directors of Brokers
Services, Hadad told her to be patient.
With time, the jobseekers got fed up and reported Namatovu to the Police. She accused Hadad of obtaining about sh33m from her. “He sent me a list of many available jobs. He tasked me to search for Ugandans on condition that they deposited 50% as commitment fee,” Namatovu explained.
She said after one week, Hadad told her there was a company which was recruiting secretaries. “I managed to get a
group of fresh female university graduates, who also deposited $500 each,” Namatovu said.
For air tickets and visas, Namatovu said, Hadad told her that the organisations in Dubai had agreed to pay for the
recruited groups.
Receipts Saturday Vision was able to access show that on March 14, Karenzi sent about sh3m ($1,000) to Hadad, using Dahabshiil Money Transfer.
Another transaction was done on March 10. The receipt shows that Karenzi sent $1,020 to Hadad. Saturday Vision has also learnt that Brokers Services subcontracted another local firm to do the same business.
Victims speak out
Hindu Nalweyiso, one of the female university students who was waiting to be recruited as a secretary, wants Namatovu to refund her money. “I read an advert in the newspaper and the following day, I paid her firm $500. After four months of waiting, I am no longer interested,” Nalweyiso explained.
Interpol not helping
In a letter dated June 4, the director of Interpol Uganda, requested the Abu Dhabi Police to apprehend Hadad, since he operates business there. Interpol Uganda gave Namatovu a letter to deliver to the Police in Abu Dhabi. But the
Abu Dhabi Police told her to first present an arrest warrant.
“I quickly contacted the Ugandan Police to send me the arrest warrant, but I was told it would take some weeks. I had
no option, but to come back because my visa had expired,” Namatovu narrated. It is not yet clear whether all the firms Hadad subcontracted, are among the 25 private firms which are licensed to conduct overseas recruitment business.
Elly Womanya, the acting director of Interpol and international relations, said they received Namatovu’s complaint.
However, he said he was not aware of the arrest warrant that Abu Dhabi Police wants Namatovu to produce.
Namatovu later told Saturday Vision that the office of the Director of Public Prosecution office on Thursday wrote to
court to sanction the arrest warrant.
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