KAMPALA – Police in Old Kampala have arrested one suspect for impersonating as Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) official and defrauding UGX 80 million.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson SP Patrick Onyango said the arrest follows a case that was reported at Old Kampala police station on September 12, 2019 by one Kyanda Godfrey aged 42, a Businessman alleging that he had been defrauded of his Shs 80 million by purported Assistant Commissioner Customs at URA one Nkurunziza Boaz and alleged Procurement Officer Edmond Munanura.
In a statement dated Wednesday, June 10, Onyango noted that Kyanda alleged that the crime was committed during the month of August 2019 at Owino Market.
“The Complainant said that during the month of June 2019, URA advertised for auctioning of motor vehicles and one Mugisha Tonny asked him to participate in the said auction,” reads an excerpt.
Onyango further noted that Mugisha told him that he was in touch with Assistant Commissioner Customs, sitting at level six URA Tower, Nakawa and that the Commissioner would handle the process.
“Kyanda was asked by the purported Commissioner to select the vehicles he was interested in according to the advert,” he said
According to Onyango, the accuser selected nine vehicles.
“He and his friend met the alleged Commissioner at Sheraton hotel to discuss the deal.The ‘Commissioner’ asked for Shs 96 million of which it included money for number plates registration, clearing with URA and considerations,” reads the statement in part.
“Since Mugisha is the one who coordinated the ‘commissioner’ to Kyanda, the alleged URA officer asked the complainant to pass all the money through Mugisha to deliver it to him at his office,” said Onyango.
“The complainant gave UGX80 million to Mugisha Tonny to deliver it to ‘assistant Commissioner’ Nkurunziza Boaz and upon receipt of the same, he would call the complainant and confirm he received the money,” he said.
He added that, “However, despite the alleged ‘Commissioner’ receiving the money and promising to deliver the nine vehicles to the complainant in one week, it did not happen.”
Onyango revealed that the complainant did not receive even a single car and instead they all switched off their mobile phones.
“Upon registering the complaint, Old Kampala Police Station investigated the case and established from the former Commissioner Customs, Mr. Kateshumbwa Dicksons who said that the Authority has never employed Nkurunziza Boaz as Assistant Commissioner Customs or Edmond Munanura as Procurement officer at the Authority, hence described them as personators and fraudsters,” he explained.
He said Munanura was arrested, his statement was taken and stated that Nkurunziza and Mugisha are the ones who defrauded the complainant.
“Mugisha was later charged with fraud at LDC Court on October 14,2019.”
Onyango added that on June 6,2020, through Intelligence led operation, Nkurunziza alias Mbaiine Samson was arrested from URA Licensing section Nakawa and taken to Old Kampala Police Station.
“Nkurunziza has been identified by many that he is known criminal who as committed fruad related cases in Stations like Jinja Road, Kira Road and others, that he would defrauded people impersonating to be URA staff,” he noted.
