By Our Reporter
BUYENDE
A woman who has been masquerading as a Uganda People’s Defence Colonel and conning fishermen in Jinja and Buyende has been arrested.
Keinembabazi Eunice saw her luck run out on Wednesday, 1st February, 2023 when she called one of the Fishéries Protection Unit officers asking him to release the illegal boats that had been impounded.
“She was asked to follow up the matter to the detach. On arrival, she was asked to identify herself, which she did, by masquerading as a UPDF officer. When she was asked to produce her identity card, she broke down and revealed how she was just a civilian,” ASP Kasadha Michael, the Police Spokesperson, Busoga North said in a statement.
Keinembabazi’s arrest follows a report made by the Fishéries Protection Unit Commander, Cpt. Katumba Jocob, in response to the public complaints against some members of security.
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.
It’s alleged that on top of conning people of money, she has been masquerading as a UPDF officer at the rank of a Colonel. Her areas of operation have been Jinja and Buyende, targeting fishermen operating around Lake Kyoga in Buyende district.
Keinembabazi is currently being detained in Buyende CPS for alleged impersonation and fraud. At the time of her arrest, Keinembabazi had conned about Ugh Shs.15m.
According to ASP Kasadha, after her arrest, Fishéries Protection officers checked her phone where they found her photo dressed in a UPDF uniform. This prompted her immediate arrest and detention at Bukungu Police Station.
A framed photo in uniform was recovered from her residence. This arrest follows the one which was made last week where another imposter was arrested in Namasagali, for allegedly extorting money from fishermen in Namasagali and Kagumba Sub-counties.
