By Leilah Bbaale
A combined team of Uganda Peoples Defense Forces-UPDF and police personnel have teamed up to corner and finally arrest Samuel Tukamushaba 32, a resident of Bujumbura West cell, Kihombaza ward, Hoima East division in Hoima City for extortion.
Tukamushaba, who is currently detained at Hoima central Police station is accused of impersonation as a Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence-CMI personnel with the aim of defrauding unsuspecting guest house owners in Hoima City of their money. He was arrested on Sunday afternoon in Hoima City.
Tukamushaba is accused of soliciting money from Guest house owners in Hoima City after claiming to be a CMI operative assigned to close all the guest houses operating during the lockdown announced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region Police spokesperson says police got a tip off from one of the guest house owners in Hoima City that Tukamushaba approached and demanded money from him in order to allow his guest house operate without any disturbances from security operatives during this lockdown period.
Hakiza says on getting the information, police and the Uganda Peoples defense forces-UPDF soldiers immediately swung into action and arrested the suspect who was immediately whisked to Hoima central police station where he is currently being detained.
According to Hakiza, at the time of his arrest and detention, Tukamushaba had extorted money from over 10 guest house owners in the city. He would charge the guest house owners different amount of money ranging from between sh 50,000 and shillings 200,000.
Police have preferred charges of extortion and impersonation against Tukamushaba.
Hakiza has warned members of the public to be vigilant and report such people to security operatives for quick action to be taken against them.
