By Andrew Cohen Amvesi
ARUA
The territorial police of Arua District have on 20th April, 2024 arrested a suspected conman for defrauding shs35m from the teachers of Logiri Girls SSS in Arua district.
The incident occurred at the school in Logiri Subcounty, Arua district in September 2023.
However, the matter was reported to police on 16th January 2024 at 1:00 pm by the Head Mistress of the school, Lillian Apio Tako, 54, a resident of Obichako Village in Logiri Sub-county, Arua District.
Josephine Angucia, the North Western police spokesperson identified the arrested suspect as Victor Aja Adame, 43, a resident of Galuga Bukaya Village, Katabi Town council in Wakiso District.
“It is alleged that in the month of september 2023, one called Aja Victor Adame, the suspect, went to office of the Headteacher of Logiri Girls Secondary School in Arua district. On reaching Headteacher’s office, the suspect identified him self as a staff working with Hon Minister of State for Higher Education Dr Muyingo John Chrysestom. While in Head teacher’s office, he claimed that Hon Minister had sent him to Logiri Girls Secondary School to look for qualified teachers who are not on government payroll, and those who are worth promotions such that they can be given schools as Head Teachers,” Angucia said.
“He further said that the best four students in S.6 would be offered Government Sponsorship at any public University. The Headteacher welcomed him and after his introduction, the headteacher called for a staff meeting such that the same could be delivered to the staffs. It was found out that 31 teachers, 03 Nurses and 01 Lab attendant within the school desperately needed that service from the Ministry. The suspect allegedly demanded one million Ugandan shillings (1,000,000/=) from each of the 35 staffs inorder to consider them for promotion to become Headteachers, and those not on government payroll to be considered on payroll and they start receiving their monthly salaries from the government,” Angucia explained.
She said since the victims were desperate, they looked for the money and handed over to the suspect, who promised them that by end of December 2023 they would receive messages as per their demands.
But Angucia noted that upon receiving the money, the suspect stopped picking phone calls from the Headteacher and later switched off his known mobile phone number 0784034045 which made the Headteacher to suspect him to have defrauded the teachers.
“She accordingly reported to Arua Vurra Central Police Station at Odumi, and registered a case of Obtaining Money By False Pretence, worth 35 Million Ugandan Shillings. The OC CID Arua Vurra district, Detective ASP Kalinaki Japher acted by opening a case of Obtaining Money By False Pretence under station diary reference 17/16/01/2024,” Angucia said.
She further remarked that the suspect was later traced, arrested and detained at Police Station. “Victims were all summoned and their statements recorded as well as statements from other relevant witnesses. An Exhibit of two million Ugandan shillings (2,000,000/=) was recovered and kept at police, as inquiries continue into the matter under Arua Vurra District CRB 078/2024,” Angucia said.
