(Lira City) – A young woman named Alice had an adventure she won’t forget—or maybe she will, if she’s lucky. On Wednesday, Alice found herself at the center of a counterfeit money scandal that nearly turned her into a local hero… for all the wrong reasons. The incident, which unfolded faster than you can say “Cheat!” had Alice caught red handed with sh1.7 million in fake cash, proving that crime doesn’t pay, especially when it involves counterfeit notes.
The drama began when Alice walked into a mobile money point on Obote Avenue, located conveniently near Chambers Building in Bazar East Cell, Lira City East Division. She was looking to deposit sh500,000 into her account, but with a twist—only the money wasn’t real. The mobile money agent, likely more perceptive than a watchful auntie during family meetings, spotted the counterfeit notes almost immediately.
Eyewitness Aron Ogwal described the scene like this: “Alice came in, asked to deposit sh500,000, but the agent noticed the cash was more suspicious than a late night boda boda ride. When the agent counted the money, it became clear that the notes were as real as a politician’s promises during election season.”
When confronted about the source of the money, Alice tried her best impression of an innocent bystander, claiming she got the notes from a bank. However, her story fell apart faster than a poorly constructed mud hut when she confessed she had received the money from an undisclosed person. Her bag was then searched, revealing more fake cash than a magician’s hat.
An irate mob, clearly thinking about “drums” decided that Alice’s fate should be decided with their fists. It was only thanks to the quick thinking of Patrick Opio, the Chairperson LC1 of Bazar East Cell, that she wasn’t turned into a local legend for all the wrong reasons. Patrick dragged Alice behind Chambers Building and promptly called the police, who arrived in time to save her from becoming a cautionary tale.
Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Region Police spokesperson, confirmed that counterfeit money is spreading through the community like the latest dance craze. “We’ve seen a rise in fake notes circulating,” Okema said, sounding as alarmed as a market vendor when the price of Matooke goes up.
Meanwhile, the police have detained two other suspects, Sam Amuza and Ambrose Otim, also known as Abaka, after discovering sh22 million in counterfeit notes at their homes.
As for Alice, let’s just say she’s now facing more than just a rough day at the mobile money point.
