Interpol develops new App, tightens security

PIC: Director Interpol and international relations, Fred Yiga addressing the congregation on the new certificate of good conduct the Interpol in Kampala. (Credit: Godiver Asege)

SECURITY

KAMPALA - Interpol has developed an android App that will help the embassies to verify letters of good conduct from Ugandans who seek to travel abroad.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, at the Interpol offices in Kololo, Dr Fred Yiga, the Director Interpol, noted that the App will also help them curb the increasing number of fake certificates issued by unscrupulous people.

A certificate of good conduct is a document issued by a country's Police indicating whether you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence or not.

Formerly signed by the Inspector General of Police, the certificate which costs sh64 000 is now signed off by the director Interpol after five days of submitting application.

Yiga stated that its demand has risen tremendously, with many requests coming from Ugandans who seek employment in the United Arab Emirates.

He said they also get requests for the letter from people seeking jobs locally, those who need visas to travel to South Africa, Canada, UK and USA, those seeking dual citizenship, registering companies, exporting human labour and those who want work permits.

"As a result of this increased demand, many unscrupulous people have taken advantage of the benevolent policies of government to defraud unsuspecting Ugandans and other nationals in need of this certificate, of a lot of money in the name of assisting them acquire it," he said.

He revealed that most of these fraudsters are briefcase labour exporting companies who use outlets along Nasser and Nkrumah road to print fake certificates  used to hoodwink the unsuspecting girls.

Director of Research Planning and Development in Uganda Police Edward Ochom interacting with Deputy Ambassador Iran Muhammed Jafari during the launch of the new certificate of good conduct by Interpol in Kampala. (Credit: Godiver Asege) 

Yiga said that the rise in human organ trade has made the situation worse given the huge amounts paid out to traffickers to get the organs, thereby, propelling many to forge the certificate.

"To avoid this serious and unfortunate commercial trade in humans, the Uganda Police Force has made changes on the certificate of good conduct to try and eradicate these mushrooming illegal businesses," he said.

He noted that the forms will have a barcode which will be verified through an App installed in android phones to ensure that they are not fake.

However, he refused to divulge more details on the security features but said it will be hard for criminals to print the certificates.

Edward Ochom, the Police director in charge of research and planning, said that they are currently working hard to come up with innovations that will make it difficult for transnational fraud to thrive.

"Interpol has database of those who maybe wanted for having committed crime in other countries and probably have run here. So this certificate helps in knowing the right person going to the right place," he said

He noted that such innovations will make it easier and cheaper to fight cross border crimes than retrieving trafficked Ugandans from their slave masters.

Rose Babirye Ssimbwa, an official from the Swedish embassy noted that the innovation will enable them detect forged certificates and stop these criminal intentions before they are executed.

The Police also warned of a number on Google which claims to be the official contact of Interpol. 'T' help from Interpol .

Police revealed that investigations are on to establish  owner  of a private telephone line  070265352  said to be used by persons impersonating Interpol  staff.