Kampala
2/11/07
 
CIRCULATIONS OF FAKE MONEY ON THE RISE IN KAMPALA AND OTHER TOWNS.

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
The Ugandan capital city is reportedly awash with fake currency notes. The fake money are also said to be in circulation in western town of Hoima.
 
The Bank Of Uganda (BOU) last week issued a stern warning to the public against fake money being circulated particularly the Ushs 10,000, Ushs 20,000 and Ushs 50,000 bank notes.
 
According to information attributed to the BOU communication director Mr. Juma Walisumbi Kampala and Hoima are the biggest sources of counterfeit notes.
 
The fake notes are copies made by colour scanners. They can be recognized by the silver strip taken from a lower denomination and glued to the fake notes.
 
‘’We want to warn the public that there is counterfeit currency in circulation. We are issuing the guide to help people recognize the features on bank notes and coins to safeguard their wealth,’’ Walusimbi was quoted by the government supported daily, THE NEW VISION.
 
In a front-page headline lead story splashed across the country, the guide titled ‘’Know Your Money, Guard Against Counterfeit Currency’’
 
It advises the people to check features on the currency money like the raised print, water marks, security thread and the quality of the paper used in printing the currency notes.
 
The NEW VISION boldly printed both the genuine and the fake currency notes in its front page as a warning to the public. The two notes looked the same in similarity, but a careful scrutiny reveal faint colours in the counterfeit.
 
In partnership with the police, we are going to find the criminals at the heart of this scam. We want to get those who import the equipment and facilitate the distribution of the fake money, Walusimbi said.
 
The police, the paper further reported, have confirmed that there is a problem with counterfeit money, which includes the circulation of fake American dollars.
 
  The startling revelation of the fake money in circulation in the country while an important meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) is only a few weeks away is the most worrying point, said a government source.
 
Heads of the 53 member states Commonwealth consisting mostly of the former British colonies and protectorate are scheduled to hold a weeklong summit in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. The Queen of England who is technically the head of the commonwealth countries is expected to be in attendance to chair parts of the summit. Also expected are dozens of presidents, prime ministers, heads of government and delegations.
 
Also expected in Uganda capital are close to/ 3000 foreign journalists, correspondents representing both print and electronic media and as such the circulation of fake currency note could complicate matters for the visiting dignitaries.
 
The police, according to a source in the Ugandan capital are taking no chance to this and plans are a foot to crush the culprits and fish them out of their hideouts.
 
A police spokesman Simeon Nsubuga is widely quoted by the press as saying, ‘‘we are aware of the problem’’. It involves mostly Ushs 20,000 and Ushs 50,000 notes. But there is also a problem with USD 50 and USD 100 notes in the American currency dollar notes. Some criminals approached businessmen claiming they can make black dollars for them.
 
Following the discovery of the counterfeits, the police last week moved with speed and arrested one suspect who is said to be a resident of Makindiye suburb.
 
The suspect whose name was given by another source as a Mr. Jonathan Ssiwemuke was caught red-handed while carrying dollar notes worth USD 50,000. In addition the suspect is said to have in his possession a negative of a Ushs 20,000 note, which is used to print the fake money, a police source disclosed this, but did not elaborate whether the suspect had some of his accomplices who are still at large and when the matter would be taken to court
 
Several shop-keepers interviewed by the NEW VISION reporters were further quoted as saying that they have become victims of the scam.
 
‘’Most of the fake notes we get are in Ushs 50,000 denomination. It has become so rampant since the beginning of the year one manager of the biggest stores in Kampala was quoted as saying and adding that the stores now encouraging the staff to study the security features of the notes before accepting them in exchange of shop goods.
 
A source said it is not only big stores and shops are facing this serious problems of fake currency note being in circulation, but even the small and petty traders, fish mongers and food sellers are having the same problem.
 
The circulation of fake money in Uganda especially the popular American dollars could even spilt to the neighbouring countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda big business people and traders regularly travel to Nairobi and Kisumu where they buy huge bulks of shop goods and other commodities using the US dollars. They are also visiting Tanzanian towns of Arusha in the north and Mwanza located in the southern shoreline of Lake Victoria for the purchases of good consignment.
 
‘’We realized it was getting out of hand so the management decided to install ultraviolet lights to see the features of genuine money’’, said a pump attendant at Pearl filling station in Old Kampala.
 
Local newspapers widely quoted a Mr. Eddy Babumba fish vendor in Kamwokya market as saying he had been duped several times as a result he had been loosing Ushs 40,000 monthly.
 
Big shopping centers like Shoprite Uchumi and Half price supermarkets have one-installed detectors to fight the vice.
 
The public have been warned that whoever set a fake note or anything he or she suspected to be fake money should go to the nearest commercial bank the Bank Of Uganda or to the police, the BOU advised, adding a warning against peddling or passing the fake notes to other people.
 
The NEW VISION also published a detailed account advising its leaders about the features of fake currency money on its front page.
 
Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com