The Dokolo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Babra Akech, on Thursday, August 27, rescued a 38-year-old man from an angry mob that wanted to lynch him over allegations of obtaining money from residents through false promises of jobs.
The incident occurred in Ageni Parish, Okwongodul Sub-county, where residents reportedly confronted the suspect, identified as Moses Omony, a native of Amuru District.
Omony is accused of allegedly posing as a police officer and using the false identity to solicit money from unsuspecting residents by promising them employment opportunities.
Akech said she received a distress call from residents who reported that Omony had been collecting money while claiming to be an Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations and Crime Detection (OCCID) attached to Kwania Central Police Station.
The RDC said Omony had also recently visited her office, where he reportedly claimed that his wife had been recruited into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) but had left behind their four-month-old child.
According to Akech, Omony sought her assistance, saying he wanted his wife to return home to help care for the baby.
She further said Omony had told her that he worked for the United Nations (UN), earned a monthly salary of Shs2.5 million and resided in Kampala.
Akech warned residents against giving money to people who use false identities or claim to hold influential positions to solicit money or promise employment.
She urged residents to verify the identity and claims of anyone offering them jobs before making any payments.
One of the alleged victims, Atyet Morris, the headteacher of Trinity Nursery and Primary School in Ageni Parish, said Omony first arrived at the school about five days before the incident, claiming that he was visiting his wife.
Atyet said Omony later introduced himself as an officer in charge of Kwania Central Police Station and claimed that police and other Government agencies were conducting annual recruitment exercises.
He alleged that he gave Omony Shs85,000 after being promised a job as a forestry officer in Omoro District.
Another alleged victim, Ocari Albert from Apenyoweo Parish, who reportedly described himself as Omony’s father-in-law, accused him of obtaining Shs450,000 from him after his vehicle was involved in an accident and impounded at Lira Central Police Station.
Ocari alleged that Omony presented himself as a police officer and promised to use his position to facilitate the release of the vehicle.
By press time, Omony was at Dokolo Central Police Station recording a statement. No injuries had been reported following the attempted mob attack.
Police investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations and determine whether charges will be preferred against the suspect.