Crime
Police in Kamuli District have arrested Sowedi Egumbye, believed to be at the centre of a counterfeit money distribution network.
The arrest, which took place during an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of November 26, 2024, marks a significant breakthrough in the fight against counterfeit money in the region.
Michael Kasadha, the spokesperson for Busoga North Police, said Egumbye was apprehended at around 4am in Buwagi village, Nawanyago Subcounty.
This follows numerous complaints from victims about robberies and the circulation of fake currency in the area.
“We have arrested the key suspect who has been evading capture for years,’ ASP Kasadha said.
“The operation was based on intelligence gathered over time, and we believe this will help reduce the rampant circulation of counterfeit money in Kamuli and neighboring districts.”
Egumbye has been on security’s radar for years, with reports linking him to counterfeit money operations dating back to 2021.
On December 11, 2021, police arrested 22 people, including Local Council officials, in Buwase-Buwagi, Nawanyago Subcounty, during a crackdown on the distribution of counterfeit notes.
Investigations then identified Egumbye as the mastermind of the operation, but he managed to evade arrest.
The group’s elaborate schemes have left many victims in financial ruin. One such victim, Eriasa Mugaya, a taxi driver on the Kamuli-Jinja route, narrated how he lost Shs9 million after falling for one of their tricks.
According to Mugaya, an elderly woman in her 60s boarded his taxi from Buwagi to Jinja City, claiming to have genuine US dollars from her daughter in the US.
She convinced Mugaya to exchange $100 for Shilling at a forex bureau, and as a gesture of gratitude, she gave him part of the exchanged money.
“She later claimed to have more dollars at home and promised that I could get Shs10 million if I exchanged them. I sold some of my property to raise Shs9 million, which I handed over to her and her associates near a mosque in Buwagi,” Mugaya recounted.
However, when he took the supposed dollars to a forex bureau, he was informed they were counterfeit.
After death of former deputy prime minister Kirunda Kivejinja – who owned a home the area – the group conned a number of people.
Using people who disguised as Kirunda’s shamba boys, the group tricked unsuspecting members of the public that the deceased left behind a safe of dollars but for them they claimed fear of going to Jinja to exchange the Dollar into Shilling.
The scam was you give them local currency in exchange for the Dollar but to your monetary advantage.
Some victims have been sold non existent land, they use one of the LCI officials to sign and stamp on the sale agreements but after paying the other executive member tell you that land has encumbrances and you dealt with wrong people.
Many people have fallen victims in such a manner and security has taken a keen interest.
Some victims say is hard to get evidence to pin the group considering their trickery.
Sources in Buwagi reveal that Egumbye’s network extends beyond a few individuals, with nearly the entire village allegedly involved in the counterfeiting business.
The group’s operations are said to be well-coordinated, with community members collaborating with them and even tipping them off about law enforcement activities.
To maintain loyalty, the group reportedly shares proceeds from their activities with villagers by buying and distributing essential items like soap, sugar, and paraffin.
Police are continuing their investigations to dismantle the entire network and bring more culprits to justice.
“This arrest is just the beginning. We are committed to ensuring that such criminal activities are rooted out completely,” ASP Kasadha emphasized.
The arrest of Sowedi Egumbye marks a major milestone in addressing the long-standing problem of counterfeit money in Kamuli.
It remains unclear where the group was getting the fake Dollar from or if they were printing it themselves.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.
