Man Impersonating as Police Officer Arrested While Ferrying Passengers

Police in Jinja city have arrested Wilbrod Baleta, a resident of Yesu Amala zone in Nansana municipality of Wakiso district, over impersonation as a policeman so as to  ferry passengers from the different parts within Kampala metropolitan area to Jinja city with intention to willfully violate.

He is accused of ferrying passengers on a motorcycle (of Red Hunter model) registration number; UFE 975E for the past five days.

It is reported that Baleta, was dressed in full police uniform, forced his way through a checkpoint on Monday morning, prompting officers who had noticed him carrying passengers before to block him.

Baleta failed to explain the particular police region he is attached to or his viable police commanders, prompting the standby security personnel to arrest him immediately.

Baleta confessed to committing the crimes, adding that he was working as a special police constable-SPC attached to Nansana police station, but never returned the government stores after the expiry of his three months contract.

“I have been ferrying stranded passengers as a means of earning a living, however, I did not steal any government stores because the uniforms I am wearing right now were given to me as one of the SPCs attached to Nansana police station, but I just delayed to return them to the authorities,” he pleaded.

The Kiira central acting police station commander, Mourice Niyonzima says that, each of the passengers ferried by Baleta from Kampala metropolitan area was charged between 100,000-150,000 Shillings.

Niyonzima adds that the suspect who is being detained at Kiira central police station will face four counts of impersonation, illegal possession of government stores, disobedience of lawful orders and engaging in acts likely to spread an infectious disease. URN