At least eight people have been arrested over printing counterfeits of Uganda and other foreign denominations. The suspects who include seven men and one woman were arrested by the Directorate of Crime Intelligence (DCI) at Elite Arcade at Nasser road.
DCI has identified the culprits as Ronald Mukisa, who is said to be the ringleader of the group while others include Geey Mugumya, Brian Abaho, Joel Kagame, Ronald Ogadi, Shadia Namuwaya, Rodgers Segwayi and Abu Mayanja.
“These people were not only making these counterfeits but they were also selling them and distributing this fake money to unsuspecting individuals. We raided Elite Arcade upon getting intelligence and caught them with the counterfeits of local and external currencies,” DCI said in the report.
DCI team recovered counterfeit money in various currencies, including Ugandan shillings, South Sudanese Pounds, US Dollars, Euros, Rwandan Francs, United Kingdom Pounds, Kuwaiti and Dinars.
ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, said DCI also recovered materials used in the production of counterfeit money. These include films, papers with images, chemicals, CPUs, monitors, digital printers, suspected forged land titles and academic documents.
“The suspects will be charged with dealing in counterfeits and will be subsequently arraigned in court once the investigations are concluded. The Police remains committed to combating counterfeit operations and ensuring the integrity of our financial system,” ASP Owoyesigyire said.
Relatedly, police in Kampala Metropolitan have carried out operations in various areas leading to the arrest of 80 suspects and recovery of three motorcycles. In Kabalagala division, police arrested 24 suspects in areas of Wabigalo parish, Kisugu, Kibuli and Namuwongo.
SSP Patrick Onyango, the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, said the operations were targeting thugs robbing people using motorcycles, hitting them with pavers, and cutting them with pangas.
Onyango added that the operation were also targeting promoters who buy stolen properties like mobile phones. He said in Matugga, a joint operation with UPDF was conducted and they were targeting criminal gangs who meet at one dark spot at Mabanda cell.
“They converge to smoke opium and chew Mira popularly known as Nkwacho. Then late in the night they attack people and terrorize the community by snatching their belongings especially phones, bags and cash. A total of 23 suspects were arrested and detained at Matugga police,” SSP Onyango said.
Only two out of the 23 suspects arrested in Matugga were females. However, by close of the day, nine suspects had been released after a joint screening carried out together with LCs, Intelligence and other stakeholders. Many of the suspects have been charged with being in possession of opium and attempt to commit a felony.