Police Arrest Suspected Impersonator Accused of Defrauding UPDF, Police Recruits

What the report says

Police in Tororo have arrested a man accused of impersonating a UPDF captain and using that false identity to collect money from people hoping to join the security forces. The suspect, identified as Benard Osinde Ayet of Aputir Central in Morukatipe Sub-county, is alleged to have presented himself as “Captain Ayet” and promised help with recruitment into the UPDF and Uganda Police Force, as well as access to other services.

Bukedi South Regional Police spokesperson Moses Mugwe said investigators believe the suspect used telephone numbers provided in the report to obtain money from several people, including both senior and junior security officers. Police said he was tracked down and is now being held at Tororo Central Police Station for impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.

According to police, Osinde told investigators that he had once served in the UPDF as a private and retired in 2010, though officers noted that his current claimed age does not match that account. Police have asked anyone who may have been cheated by the suspect to come forward and help with the case.

The arrest came soon after the UPDF completed a recruitment exercise in Tororo and nearby districts, a period police say can attract impostors who target applicants seeking entry into the forces. The file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice once inquiries are complete.