How Ugandans are losing money to fraudsters

More often you might find a poster calling for job seekers, service providers such as gardeners but shockingly, not all of them are genuine.
Some use posters to trap unsuspecting individuals.
Haawah Kizza Nanyanzi, a resident of Kabowa in Nyanama, a Kampala suburb, who had been tipped off by a friend about a job advertised on a poster in Kampala, became a victim of fraud after sending Shs16,000 as registration fee to a “virtual” job connection company.
She got her phone and other belongings stolen when she was invited for an interview, only to be lured into a busy shopping mall and later defrauded.
Even though authorities have always assured the public that several parameters have been put in place to curb the crime, criminals are still at large seemingly using some other tricks to reach out to their baits.

Shockingly, with street camera’s put in place and all SIM cards registered, some crafty people continue to pin illegal posters to fuel crime and further include telephone contacts.
All they do is to smartly fleece money from unsuspecting people in the name of connection fees from those looking for jobs, houses and other similar services.

Bashir Lubega of Ggaba explains that some disguise as house brokers that one is made to pay money in the name of “search fee” and one is made to move around intruding into people’s homes yet initially one tells you that a particular house is readily available.
He says some of the brokers literally connive with thieves to return and break into people’s homes.

Apparently, the most popular posters in Kampala City advertise a one Dr Gujju from Mombasa with inscriptions that he helps in many problems such as infertility among women, financial problems, manpower, winning court cases, and abortion, among others.
The weird bit about this “doctor” is that his telephone contacts also happen to be on other posters that advertise house brokers, fumigators and drivers.

In a telephone conversation with Dr Gujju, who claims to be a Kenyan from Mombasa, suggests otherwise.
He speaks fluent Luganda and asks his clients to send Shs16,000 through mobile money and a text message of a particular problem one wants to get fixed.
Dr Gujju explains that if one wants to meet him, a fee of Shs72,000 through mobile money must be paid first before he reveals his address.
Like Dr Gujju, there are several others who pin posters on Kampala streets indicating that they offer abortion services, treat cancer and all sorts of diseases.
Among them is a one Jjajja Kikulwe and Dr Charles, who have posters littered on Kampala Road and downtown. Kikulwe claims to be a master at exorcising all demons.

Jobs that do not exist
Ms Mariam Mwiiza, an anti-human trafficking activist, says human traffickers have also made posters to lure their victims. She says most trafficking agents use such posters to advertise jobs abroad.
At Bunga Zebra Stage on Ggaba Road, there is a poster advertising several jobs, including medical assistants, nurses, cleaners and drivers, among others.
However, the person whose number appears on the poster refuses to identify himself when called, but he says his office is in Munyonyo near a police post.

He says all one needs is a National Identification card, Shs45,000 for registration and two passport-size photographs. He says in just days, one would get the much sought dream job.
When another call is made the following day at the said location, he insists that money has to be sent on phone before clear directions can be provided.

However, before concluding the phone call, a girl, seemingly in her early 20s.
She says: “I paid Shs45,000 to get a job in November 2018, and I am still waiting. All they say is that they are still processing my papers.”
Just like the one in Munyonyo, attempts to seek similar services later in Nansana, Wakiso District suggest otherswise.
A gentleman says I can pay Shs50,000 to be offered a job in Kiruddu Hospital as a nursing assistant before even revealing the job of my choice.

Change of job offer
Later, after insisting that I am a mass communication graduate who needs a job, he immediately says he can offer me a job at Nation Media Group owned Spark Television or Central Broadcasting Service Radio (CBS).
Even though he says his offices are in Nansana, with another office in Kaleerwe, he offers to meet me near Central Police Station (CPS) in Kampala where we could make all transactions for him to get my papers processed.

Upon our meeting, he turns up in a branded polo shirt with a tailored logo with inscription “Jobs Uganda.”
He accepts a partial payment of Shs10,000 after explaining to him that I have no money and I would pay later after getting the job.
However, he declines to offer me a receipt.
“Let’s meet on Wednesday at CBS in Mengo for the interviews,” he advises.
A day later, as planned, I try to call him to confirm the schedule but he says the interviews had been rescheduled for the next two months. That’s how the supposed deal ends.

The ban
In 2015, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) outlawed posters in what was seen as an intervention to bar politicians from littering the city.
However, the then KCCA executive director, Ms Jennifer Musisi, later changed the order, explaining that all posters in the city had to be approved by the authority.
KCCA spokesperson Peter Kaujju explains that posters advertising anything without permission from the authority are not allowed in the city.
Despite this, illegal posters continue to be spread in the city without approval from the authority.

The Law
The Kampala Capital City Act, 2010, the Kampala City Council (Maintenance of Law & Order) Ordinance 2006, and the Kampala City Council (Outdoor Advertising) Guidelines, 2008 prohibit the display or causing or permitting to be displayed in all outdoor areas, whether on the exterior surface of any building or on any part of any premises, or on any free-standing advertising structure, any posters or advertisements of whatever nature, without a license or permit from the city administration.

In February, Parliament passed the Traditional and Complimentary Medicines Act, 2019.
The State minister for Health in-charge of General Duties, Ms Sarah Opendi, says the Traditional and Complimentary Medicines Act, 2019 seeks to place a Shs20 million fine to whoever advertises their services without a licence.