Police have arrested Shaka Lukooya, a 27-year-old man from Wakiso district who has been allegedly masquerading as different bishops on social media to defraud believer.
Authorities at Makerere University Police Station say that the suspect has been opening up Facebook accounts in various names of religious leaders – especially bishops – and sending friend requests to unsuspecting victims whom he would later ask for money for bogus church projects.
The New vision confirmed that among the religious leaders that Lukooya masqueraded as include Namirembe Diocese Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, North Kigezi Diocese Bishop Patrick Tugume, Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa, Kabale Diocese Bishop Callistus Rubaramira, Hoima Diocese Bishop Albert Edward Baharagate.
Others are Mukono Diocese Bishop James Ssebagala, Muhabura diocese Bishop Cranmer Mugisha, South Ankole diocese Bishop Natahan Ahimbisibwe, Bishop Lambert Bainomugisha of Mbarara and Bishop Joseph Mugyenyi.
“We believe many people have been fleeced of their money over time.” said SP Jackson Mucunguzi.
UG Christian News has been able to get intouch with one believer who received a friend requests from an impostor in the names of Bp-Stanley Ntagaali
Victim Narrates
One morning, I logged into my facebook account and, among my latest friend requests was was one from Bp-Stanley Ntagaali. I froze for a second because, this was nothing I expected in my wildest dreams. I added him though felt suspicious. Not that I am not a churchgoer but, come-on its the Church of Uganda Anglican bishop we are talking about,”
Curiosity forced me to review his (Bp-Stanley Ntagaali) time line. It was plain clean – “This must be a new account,” I thought to my self. Before long, the person sent me a message saying, “Praise God my son, we are doing some fund raising for a church construction and do appreciate any contributions towards the cause,” My response was, “Greetings to you too, is this the Archbishop?” His response was, “Do you know me?” “Your account says so,” I responded.
He later told me that he was stranded somewhere, asking whether I was in Kampala to send him financial help.” Not after long, I got to find out that he was a con-man. I searched facebook and results of the authentic account to Archbishop of Church of Uganda Rev. Stanley Ntagali showed up.
Soon after, I could not retrieve my conversations with him, all it read was “This message has been temporarily removed because the sender’s account requires verification,”
