By Peter Ssebulime
Kampala: Three suspects, two women and one man, are detained in connection with forging Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) documents, including those of several government institutions, international agencies and banks.
It is alleged that Ali Kimera Ssajjabi, Amina Nambalye and Hadijah Nakitende are based along Nasser Road, Kampala, from where they forge bank stamps and documents for government agencies, private companies and Nongovernmental organisations.
According to URA Publicist, Vincent Seruma, for days, the suspects were trailed until they were nabbed.
Seruma however noted that two other suspects are on the run. Following the arrest, several forged stamps, academic certificates and transcripts were impounded.
This was in addition to a computer on which other forged documents were saved in soft copies.
The suspects also had in their possession forged logbooks for motorcycles and vehicles, which make them key participants in the prevailing rampant car and motorcycle (boda boda) thefts, in addition to aiding the boda boda murders.
Addressing the press on Friday, August 2, 2019 at URA head offices, Seruma said
“A total of 119 forged stamps were recovered. Of these, 39 were supposedly for commercial banks.” He added “Key government bodies whose stamps were forged include the army (UPDF), Uganda Police Force, Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Lands, and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. They also had stamps for Uganda Registration Services Bureau Registrar and Uganda National Roads Authority weighbridges.”
Listed Local governments whose stamps were recovered are; Mityana, Kampala Capital City Authority Deputy Mayor Kampala and Kawempe, Luweero, Mpigi, Kaliro, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Mbarara, Bundibugyo, Kitgum, Koboko, Buikwe, Mukono, Mayuge, Kayunga Sheema and Kamwenge. Also recovered were stamps from several courts in Nabweru, Mityana, and Mukono. Seruma was concerned about people’s health as the suspects had eight forged stamps for major hospitals namely Mengo Hospital, Fort Portal Hospital, Malaika Medical Centre Kitemu, Kasangati Health Centre, IMC Wandegeya, Mukono Health Centre and DHO stamp for Kyotera.
In addition, they were forging Nursing School certificates. Other forged certificates recovered were for the Uganda National Examination Board as well transcripts for Kyambogo and Makerere Universities.
And as the country battles human trafficking, the trio allegedly had 14 stamps for Oman Visa Entry, South African Police Service, Zimbabwe Immigration, India Immigration and United Nations, revealed Seruma.
He noted that the extent of fraud will be ascertained after assessment of the computer by the Forensic team. He stated that several charges of falsification of documents and fraud have been lined-up against the trio, scheduled to appear in court after completion of investigations. Seruma cautioned the public to beware of such persons and also be on the look-out for people who taint the country’s efficiency and institutions.
