Police in the East Kyoga Region have arrested a 35-year-old Soroti City resident, Jonathan Ochola, over allegations of impersonation, theft and unlawful possession of military uniforms.
Ochola was arrested by the Flying Squad following complaints from residents of Katakwi District, who accused him of impersonating Col. Peter Ekotu, an officer purportedly attached to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHAU), to defraud members of the public.
According to preliminary investigations, Ochola allegedly posed as a State House Anti-Corruption Unit officer and contacted public officials, using threats and intimidation to solicit money. He is also suspected of having worn Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) uniforms on several occasions.
Police say Ochola used the aliases Peter Ekotu and Onoria to conceal his identity and facilitate his alleged activities.
East Kyoga Region Police Commander Ibrahim Saiga said the arrest followed intelligence provided by members of the community, who alerted authorities to the suspect’s alleged activities.
“The suspect impersonated Col. Peter Ekotu, claiming to be attached to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHAU), and used the identity to defraud members of the public,” Saiga said.
He further alleged that Ochola obtained 1.2 million Shillings from the father of an inmate on remand at Katakwi Prison over a murder case. The suspect allegedly claimed he could facilitate the inmate’s release on bail through the Soroti High Court.
Saiga said police recovered several items and documents during a search of Ochola’s residence, which investigators believe may have been used in his alleged operations.
“We recovered two pairs of UPDF uniforms, desert boots, a UPDF bag, a cap, Parish Development Model (PDM) documents bearing details of Abim District, a list of inmates’ names and other UPDF-related documents,” Saiga said.
Ochola is being held at Soroti City East Police Division as investigations continue. He is expected to undergo further interrogation as police pursue the case.
Police have urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of impersonation, fraud and extortion to the nearest police station-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
