Iganga: The police in Busoga East on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, arrested Iganga District’s Nakigo Sub-county LC3 chairman, Hussein Booza, over alleged fraud.
Booza’s arrest follows multiple complaints from victims who claimed they were scammed by the chairman, a member of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP). He allegedly sold his mortgaged house to an unsuspecting buyer, Magrete Nabukalu, for Shs8.5 million.
Nabukalu was shocked when bank enforcement officers recently showed up at her doorstep, labeling the house “Bank Property for Sale.” Booza later admitted that he had borrowed money from the bank due to financial challenges.
“I asked him about the people who were chasing us out of the house, and he told me he had borrowed money from the bank and used the house as collateral,” Ms. Nabukalu said.
But that’s not all—Booza is also accused of scamming his voters by promising them jobs abroad, which never materialized. He allegedly collected money from them, claiming he owned a travel company, but never delivered on his promises.
Two of his victims, Moses Gubya and Mutwalib Mukisa, came forward with their stories, saying they paid Booza Shs4 million and Shs1.5 million, respectively, for jobs that never materialized.
“He came to my home with his friend and told me he had a well-paying job abroad. He said it required about four million shillings. They instructed me to go for a medical test, which I did. Later, they asked for one more million, and I gave it to them because I trusted them. But it’s now been two years, and nothing has happened,” Gubya told reporters.
Gubya, a resident of Bulubandi in Iganga Municipality, claimed Booza initially promised to secure him a job in Saudi Arabia but later changed the destination to Jordan.
However, after Gubya made the payments, Booza stopped responding to his calls. Left with no choice, Gubya sought police intervention, hoping to recover his lost money.
“When I reported the matter to the police, he was summoned and started calling me privately, saying he wanted to refund at least Shs1.5 million. But I refused,” Gubya said.
Mukisa’s attempts to retrieve his money have also been unsuccessful. Despite filing a police report, the chairman allegedly used his influence to undermine the case. However, Mukisa did not give up and eventually sought help from the Regional Police Commander’s (RPC) office.
The Regional Police Commander (RPC) of Busoga East, SSP Abas Ssenyonjo, confirmed Booza’s arrest, stating that the chairman had been obtaining money by false pretense.
“These complainants have reported to my office how the chairman has been intimidating them and boasting that he would not refund their money. I have taken action and ordered his arrest, and he is now in custody,” the RPC said.
The RPC praised his team’s efforts and urged other victims to come forward and report similar incidents.
The suspect is currently detained at Iganga Regional Police Station as investigations continue. According to the RPC, Booza will soon face charges of fraud and obtaining money by false pretense in court.
He, however, cautioned leaders against exploiting citizens, emphasizing that those in positions of authority should set a good example in the communities they serve.
Booza’s arrest sends a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated and that those in power will be held accountable for their actions. The community has commended the police for their efforts in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
The police are encouraging anyone with additional information or who may have been a victim of Booza’s scams to come forward and report their complaints.
