Victoria University Imposter Cons Shs45m, Arrested

Police over the weekend arrested a man identified as Alfred Guma, who is believed to have been posing as an agent of Victoria University in Gulu and Arua Districts respectively.

By the time of his arrest, Guma had solicited more than shs.45 million from students in Northern region, after promising to connect them to the department of Oil and Gas at Victoria University in Kampala.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Patrick Onyango told Red Pepper that, when Victoria University informed them of the culprit, they dispatched a team of detectives who later arrested.

According to Victoria University marketing and recruitment specialists, Oscar Kamukama, early last week, they were approached by a one Martin Alumai at their main campus on Kampala road, seeking to know when their graduation was to be held.

The university got shocked to hear such a question from a person who was not their student.

In his statement, Martin told Police that Guma had registered and recruited them on behalf of the University to do a certificate in Oil and Gas but after finishing the course.

“He told us to pay him in Dollars, ( $1500), which me and about fourteen other colleagues of mine did but after waiting in vain for the graduation day, I decided to travel up to the main campus to inquire about the bi day,” Martin explained.

Though the suspect claims he had been tasked to look for students in the Northern region by the university’s Oil and Gas training coordinator Dr. Drake Kyalimpa, Police’s preliminary findings had established that, the culprit had in possession of fake university receipts and registration forms which he was issuing to students he was illegally recruiting.

By press time, more than 14 students who were duped had made their statements at Kampala Police Central Police Station and a case file registered vide of reference CRB:949/2015, had been opened as more investigations into the matter continue. Meanwhile, the university promoter, Rajiv Ruparelia appealed to security authorities to help in cracking down such kind of people who aim at taking advantage of other peoples’ quality work.

“After seeing the good and sounding standard on which we have put the University, wrong people have started taking the advantage to con, I think this impunity will not be tolerated,” Rajiv warned.