Boda boda rider remanded over conning Shs 600m out of Bishop Kaggwa's family

Hassan Lutaaya, a boda boda rider from Kitaara, Entebbe Municipality, has been remanded to Luzira Prison until December 12, 2024, on allegations of defrauding Shs 600 million from the family of the late Masaka Diocesan Bishop, John Baptist Kaggwa.

Appearing before Buganda Road chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, Lutaaya, a resident of Kitaara, Entebbe Municipality in Wakiso district faced a charge of theft but denied the allegations. The court did not allow him to apply for bail, nor was he informed of the progress of investigations due to the absence of a prosecutor during the session.

Court heard that between September and November 5, 2024, Lutaaya and accomplices allegedly tricked Cissy Nakivumbi and Samalie Lwanga, relatives of the late Bishop Kaggwa, into believing they were in possession of a bag left by the bishop containing a large sum of money, including fake US dollars, and sewing machines.

The suspects reportedly convinced the victims to help exchange the fake dollars for genuine currency and to find buyers for the purported items. The fraudsters provided a small amount of fake currency that the victims successfully exchanged for genuine dollars, luring them deeper into the scheme.

The conmen allegedly involved foreign nationals who visited the victims in luxury vehicles, further enhancing the illusion of legitimacy of the 'project'. This elaborate setup further convinced the victims to invest significant sums into the fraudulent "project."