Police in Entebbe have netted a Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF impostor for erecting illegal roadblocks to rob from locals in the Kampala Metropolitan areas.
The suspect, Moses Amanyire a local from Sseguku in Makindye Ssabagabo, disguises himself as a UPDF captain to conduct robberies in Kampala. He is a gang leader of a group of criminals behind a spate of violent robberies.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, Amanyire, is a UPDF deserter, who has previously been arrested and implicated for robberies, multiple kidnappings, land conflicts among others.
“He has been engaged in activities over land, these are people who are hired to disguise themselves as military officers when there is a land conflict in an area. He causes commotion and even kidnaps people involved in the land conflict because he has interest in the matter. It is unfortunate to say that for the many occasions he has been arrested and arraigned in court martial or other courts, he has usually been granted bail and continued the same activities,” he says
This is not the first time that the police is netting suspects disguised as UPDF officers. In February 2023, Buyende police arrested one Keinembabazi Eunice for alleged impersonation and fraud.
This followed a report made by the Fishéries Protection Unit Commander, Cpt. Katumba Jocob, in response to the public complaints against some members of security. At the time of her arrest, Keinembabazi had conned about Ugh Shs.15m. It’s Alleged that on top of conning people for money, she has been masquerading as a UPDF officer at the rank of a Colonel.
Preliminary investigations suggest that whenever an operation against illegal fishing would be conducted, Keinembabazi would call Fisheries Protection Unit commanders introducing herself as Col Mbabazi and ordering for the release of suspects.
In September 2022, Two UPDF imposters were in custody at the Jinja based Gaddafi barracks. Simon Waiswa and Muzamiru Kawuzi were picked up from Buwenge town council on Wednesday evening for illegally using military attire to rob unsuspecting members of the public.
