![The Deputy Speaker called on the Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Tom Magambo, to investigate the incident and look into the broader operations of digital lending firms. Tayebwa said, “You need to interest yourself in this sector [because] many Ugandans might be dying quietly.”](https://ankoletimes.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Facebook-Ban-Ignored-by-Some-Officials-Tayebwa-Claims-1.jpg)
(Kampala) – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has raised alarm over alleged harassment by online money lending companies, urging authorities to take decisive action to regulate the sector.
Tayebwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ruhinda North, revealed that he received a threatening phone call from a woman claiming to represent one such firm. The woman allegedly demanded repayment of a loan taken by an unidentified borrower who had falsely listed Tayebwa as their next of kin.
“She threatened to deduct their company’s loan money if I did not produce this individual,” Tayebwa shared on X (formerly Twitter). He expressed concern over the unchecked activities of some digital lenders, describing the situation as a potential breeding ground for criminal activity.
The Deputy Speaker called on the Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Tom Magambo, to investigate the incident and look into the broader operations of digital lending firms. Tayebwa said, “You need to interest yourself in this sector [because] many Ugandans might be dying quietly.”
Magambo, who also serves as the Assistant Inspector General of Police, assured Tayebwa that his concerns were being taken seriously. “This concern is well received. My colleagues and I will do our best to handle this and other related crimes,” he responded.
On Friday, Tayebwa thanked the public for their overwhelming responses to his post, which had sparked a flood of testimonies from other victims of harassment by similar companies. He shared the mobile number of the alleged caller, 0788135455, and highlighted the opaque practices of these firms.
“There seem to be very many companies of this nature without physical traceability, no records of paying taxes, no customer care centers to handle complaints, and they run online terror squads threatening to shame innocent victims,” Tayebwa noted.
The Deputy Speaker also acknowledged that some citizens criticized his delayed attention to the issue, referring to earlier warnings by Ronald Egesa, a political and business strategist. Tayebwa admitted he was unaware of Egesa’s earlier campaign but had since spoken with him, gaining “deeply concerning information about these predators.”
The Deputy Speaker pledged to address the problem, warning the companies to either comply with regulations or face consequences. “We are going to take it on seriously. If the issue is about weak regulation, we are going to do whatever it takes to have it sorted. They have to either shape up or ship out,” he said.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing as the CID works to uncover the extent of fraudulent practices in the digital lending sector.
