KAMPALA, Uganda – The Police have launched an investigation into a massive visa and overseas employment scam, allegedly orchestrated by Christian Asiimwe, also known as Don Chris. Asiimwe is currently at large, accused of defrauding at least 85 Ugandans of over Shs500 million.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SSP Patrick Onyango stated that Asiimwe operated under the guise of a travel company, promising lucrative job opportunities in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Dubai, and Luxembourg.
“Victims were convinced to pay between Shs3.5 million and Shs10 million each to cover visa processing, air tickets, medical examinations, and job placement fees,” Onyango revealed in an interview.
He added that applicants were told they could travel under a soft loan arrangement, provided they paid at least 50 percent of the fees upfront. To appear legitimate, the scammers issued official-looking company receipts and assured applicants they would travel within two to six months.
Despite fulfilling all financial obligations, none of the victims ever traveled. Suspicion grew when communication from the company became erratic. The firm’s office, initially located in Ntinda, was abruptly relocated to Kitende, Entebbe, making it even harder for victims to track down the operators or seek refunds.
After repeated pleas for facilitation or reimbursement went unanswered, the victims approached the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, who then referred the matter to the Kampala Metropolitan CID Commander for investigation.
This incident highlights a broader issue in Uganda’s labor market. According to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, over 5,000 fraud-related complaints involving illegal labor recruitment agencies have been filed in the past three years, with estimated losses exceeding Shs10 billion. The ministry has warned that many of these agencies operate without valid licenses, preying on Uganda’s high youth unemployment rate, which currently stands at over 13 percent, according to data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).
Attempts to reach Mr. Asiimwe have been unsuccessful, as all his known phone numbers are off. However, in a defiant TikTok Live video posted on Monday, he appeared to mock the Ugandans he allegedly defrauded.
“Why are you running out of the country? Is Uganda bad? Are the leaders bad? If you all leave, who will vote for Museveni and Bobi Wine in the next elections?” Asiimwe asked mockingly. He further challenged, “I’m not afraid. I’ve been arrested several times. After they arrest me, will they shoot me? No. You were supposed to receive your money on Friday, but you ran to social media. Let social media pay you now.”
“We urge any other individuals who may have fallen victim to this scam but haven’t reported to come forward,” appealed SSP Onyango. “Please report to the CID Commander at Kampala Metropolitan Police so we can broaden the investigation and work toward recovering more funds.” The police are actively pursuing leads to bring the suspect to justice.
