Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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Four suspects have been arrested at a hotel in Lira City over allegations of possessing suspected counterfeit currency during a joint security operation by the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF).
The suspects have been identified as Bashir Magambo, 55, a resident of California Village in Kyankende Sub-county, Kiryandongo District; David Epieu, 43, from Amuria District; Emmanuel Ebulu, 46, from Kapelebyong District; and Abdu Omuria, 40, a resident of Soroti City.
The operation was conducted at Agenda 501 Hotel in Lira City East Division. Police said another individual who was initially with the group is now cooperating with investigators as an informant.
According to North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema, security officers recovered suspected counterfeit Shs50,000 notes with a face value of Shs3 million, along with chemicals and other materials believed to have been intended for producing counterfeit currency.
Okema said detectives documented the scene, recorded witness statements, recovered the suspected exhibits and detained the four suspects as investigations continue. He added that the recovered notes and related materials would be submitted to the Bank of Uganda Currency Centre in Lira for forensic examination and analysis.
The arrests come just weeks after another intelligence-led operation in Ireda Shamba Cell, Lira City East Division, where four suspects were arrested after security agencies recovered bundles of suspected counterfeit US dollar notes with a face value of about $9 million (approximately Shs33.75 billion).
Police said that operation followed a tip-off that suspected counterfeit currency and related materials were being kept at the residence of a local businesswoman. During the search, officers recovered the suspected counterfeit US dollar notes from a safe belonging to a suspect identified only as Sandra, along with several motor vehicle logbooks and additional US dollar notes in various denominations.
Observer UG
