By Our Reporter
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) has successfully busted a high-stakes scam involving nearly USD 5 million (about 19billion), saving a Turkish investor from falling prey to a sophisticated criminal network posing as senior Ugandan government officials.
In a press briefing held earlier yesterday, Mr. Israel Ochwo, the Deputy Head of SH-ACU, revealed that the Unit intercepted a fraudulent scheme targeting Mr. Furkan Gumran, a Turkish national and director of SIRUS BLUE CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. The scam was centered around a fake supply contract allegedly issued by the Ministry of Energy for AD BLUE, a chemical used in reducing vehicle emissions.
According to Mr. Ochwo, the fraudsters had fabricated an elaborate operation complete with forged documents, fake titles, and staged meetings. The individuals impersonated top government officials with the following assumed positions:
- Dr. Mulyansaka Charles – Chairman, Special Contracts Committee
- Mwesigwa Moses – Director, Procurement
- Seruma Moses – Communications/IT Specialist
- Watum Peter – Secretary
The would-be scammers were apprehended during a sting operation at AHA Towers in Kampala, following a carefully orchestrated meeting arranged in collaboration with Mr. Gumran, who had raised the alarm after suspecting inconsistencies in the proposal.
“We commend Mr. Gumran for his vigilance, courage, and faith in Ugandan institutions. His decision to verify the deal instead of blindly proceeding was crucial in dismantling this criminal plot,” Mr. Ochwo stated.
He used the opportunity to urge all foreign investors to crosscheck any offers related to government contracts through the SH-ACU or the Shield Investors Protection Unit (SH-IPU) before committing to financial transactions.
In a related call to action, Mr. Ochwo also appealed to the public for information leading to the arrest of Ssekidde Lubowa Godfrey, also known by the alias “Maj. Gen. Sam Kiwanuka.” Lubowa is currently on the run, wanted for defrauding Sidari Limited (Kenya) of USD 197,670, using forged documents purportedly from the Office of the President and the Bank of Uganda.
The SH-ACU reiterated its commitment to creating a safe and transparent environment for investors in Uganda and warned that fraudsters masquerading as government officials will be pursued and brought to justice.
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