In a breakthrough operation, Jinja Police have arrested a cunning impostor who had been deceiving residents by masquerading as an FFU officer.
FFU stands for Field Force Unit, which is a specialized unit within the Uganda Police Force. The Field Force Unit is a paramilitary wing of the police force, trained to handle high-risk operations, crowd control, and public order management.
Jackson Mukasa, alias Afande Kawo, is currently in custody at Central Police Station (CPS) Jinja City, facing multiple charges.
‘Afande’ is a Kiswahili word common in the security circles in Uganda, which loosely means an officer.
According to Kiira Regional Spokesperson SP James Mubi, Mukasa’s modus operandi involved preying on desperate individuals who had lost their phones to thieves.
He would promise to help track and recover the stolen devices in exchange for money.
However, his fraudulent scheme was exposed when he allegedly stole an Infinix Hot30 mobile Smartphone and 500,000 Uganda shillings from a chapatti seller in Masese ward, Jinja City, on August 8, 2024.
Pretending to be a Good Samaritan, Mukasa demanded an additional 700,000 Uganda shillings as “facilitation fees” from the victim.
The victim, fed up with the unending demands and empty promises, reported the matter to Masese Community Police Station, leading to Mukasa’s arrest.
SP James Mubi confirmed that all necessary evidence is being gathered, and Mukasa will be arraigned in court to face charges of impersonation, theft, and obtaining money by false pretense.
The police have issued a stern warning to the public, urging them to be cautious and not trust individuals without proper verification. The authorities encourage citizens to report all criminal-related matters to nearby police stations.
This arrest from a makeshift hideout, serves as a reminder that law enforcement agencies are committed to protecting the public from deceitful individuals.
Information available indicates that so far more than 30 complainants have reported and recorded statements at the police against the same suspect.
The people of Jinja can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that a cunning impostor is off the streets.
What You Need To Know:
FFU stands for Field Force Unit, which is a specialized unit within the Uganda Police Force. The Field Force Unit is a paramilitary wing of the police force, trained to handle high-risk operations, crowd control, and public order management.
The FFU is responsible for: Crowd control and riot management, high-risk arrests and operations, search and rescue missions, disaster response and management and supporting other police units in special operations.
FFU personnel are trained in advanced combat tactics, first aid, and human rights. They are equipped with specialized gear, including riot control equipment, firearms, and vehicles.
In the context of this article, the suspect, Jackson Mukasa, was impersonating a Field Force Unit officer, which is a serious offense, as it undermines the authority and trust in the legitimate FFU personnel.
According to information available on Uganda Parliament and Uganda Law Reform Commission websites, the updated sections The Uganda Penal Code Act (Amendment) Act, 2020, the sections on theft, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretense are addressed as follows:
Section 254 of the Uganda Penal Code Act (as amended in 2020) states: “Any person, who steals any property, or any part thereof, commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.”
Section 258 of the Uganda Penal Code Act (as amended in 2020) states: “Any person who, with intent to defraud or deceive, falsely personates any other person, living or dead, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for five years.”
Section 305 of the Uganda Penal Code Act (as amended in 2020) states: “Any person, who, with intent to defraud, obtains any property from any other person by false pretenses, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.”
This means, Mukasa is going to spend some good years in the cold walls of Kirinya Prison located in Lake Victoria, should the police present enough evidence that can lead to conviction.
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