The Directorate of CID has arrested and charged to court, a one Mugarura Mike, the prime suspect and mastermind behind major phone scams in the country.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said as part of the scheme, the scammers utilized a network of call centers to call potential victims within the country.

“They would obtain personally identifiable information obtained from a number of sources including websites of MDAs, like immigration foreigners with deportation; URA for tax related scams, NSSF for scams on benefits, UCC with threats of sim card de-registration and other mobile telephone networks, lawyers threatening legal action etc. As part of the scam victims were convinced to part with money.”

The arrest of Mugarura Mike, came following investigations into more than 54 incidents since 2009.

“Notably among them, are his personation of Gen. Salim Saleh, Rtd Major Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Rtd Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Professor Ogenga Latigo, The CGP Dr. Byabashaija, the late BOU Governor Mutebile, Hon, Sam kutesa, Business Mogal Patrick Bitature, Al Hajji Moses Kigongo, Robert Kabushenga (former CEO Vision Group), Brig. Mayombo’s son, and many others VIPs, whom they personated without their knowledge, and defrauded victims,” Enanga said.

In the most recent phone scam, they targeted forensic officers in districts and regions.

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The prime suspect together with 4 others namely; Eletu Moses, Arim Rifad, Mwebembezi Patrick and Rwothomia Demick, acquired UTL line 0414673797 and MTN line 0776-318856, and started targeting SOCO’s alleged for training courses in UK, USA and South Africa.

“They would demand money for processing travel documents and defraud them. As a result, the prime suspect Mugarura Mike was charged with 4 counts of personation, C/S 381 of the Penal Code Act, 2 counts of obtaining money by false pretence, C/S 305 of the Penal Code Act, while the 4 other accomplices of Eletu Moses, Arim Rifad, Patrick Mwebembezi and Rwothonia Derrick, were charged with conspiracy to defraud C/S 309 of the Penal Code Act,” Enanga said.

Several exhibits including lists of names, phone numbers of potential victims, of progress, 7 mobile phones, other notebooks, hand written scripts that the scam workers used for talking to victims with elaborate details.

Enanga warned the public that phone scamming is a rampant problem, and the tactics used have been evolving with time. “The public should be extremely cautious when receiving unanticipated requests for money.”

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Renown businessman Charles Mbire has been appointed to Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Economic Forum Advisory board.

According to MUBS Principal Prof. Waswa Balunywa, Mbire was identified as a person with relations of the local and global levels and was therefore added to a high-level panel whose mandate will span for three years and be renewable once.

“You have been identified as a person with knowledge, passion, commitment, and relations of the local and global levels that can be leveraged to promote and enhance the cause of the forum,” Balunywa said in the letter of appointment dated August 4th.

Prof. Balunywa said the Forum will continue to be engaged in relevant research, and discussions with various stakeholders and actors in the space of economic development and also act as a think tank for economic development policy in the country, the region and beyond.

“Part of this Forum’s mandate is to bring together researchers, practitioners in public and private sector, consultants and students to discuss and make proposals on topical economic issues,” Prof. Balunywa added.

The mandate of the forum is to among others to represent public sector policy and development; private sector development and support; business operations and management; academia, policy, advocacy/civil society, knowledge of finance and fundraising.

Charles Mbire is the Chairman of MTN Uganda. He was also on the Board of IMF Africa advisory Council, Board of Ecobank Uganda, Board of Eskom Uganda, Chairman of Makerere University Holdings, as well as member of the Presidential Investment Round table among others.

He is a trained Economist from the University Of Essex-Uk with an MBA from the University of Leicester in UK.

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