KOLOLO– The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Brig. Muzeeyi Sabiiti, has asked the Chinese government to help the Uganda Police Force (UPF) acquire the latest technologies to fight cyber-fraud.
Speaking at the function on Tuesday at Interpol offices in Kololo where Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zhuqiang donated a 30-sitter coaster to police, Brig Sabiiti said that police need assistance in fighting cyber-crime which is still a big problem.
“We appreciate the support China government has offered to Uganda police over the years, with also the recent trainings, however we still need your assistance,” said Muzeeyi.
He told the Chinese ambassador that the Force is facing challenges of curbing cross-border crime such as human trafficking, terrorism, motor vehicle and drug smuggling.
According to the 2016 Interpol report, close to Shs200b was lost by ministries and banks to hackers.
Mr. Zhuqiang commended the police for protecting Chinese businessmen and ensuring safety for all nationals. This, he said, was the reason why many Chinese are yearning to invest in Uganda.
“Supporting Uganda Police is more of supporting our own country because when the police have the capacity to fight crime it means Chinese nationals are safe,” he said.
“We are happy that Uganda police has always ensured security for Ugandans and all Chinese living in Uganda and we promise to keep this close cooperation,” added Zhuqiang.
Interpol Director in Uganda, Fred Yiga, acknowledged Mr. Zhuqiang’s donation that includes a coaster, generator, securing training for Interpol officers, TV screens, and video cameras. This equipment, he said, have seen Interpol serves citizens with efficiency and effectiveness.
Besides cybercrimes, Yiga said there is increased hacking into Internet networks of especially importers of goods from places like Dubai, China and Japan.
He says unsuspecting business people usually get to discover when either their money has been stolen or the goods they ordered from Europe, China, Japan or Dubai have been diverted to somewhere else.
There are also Ugandans who are using the Internet to push through forged travellers’ cheques, which they use to purchase goods from unsuspecting business people in Europe, Dubai, China and Japan.
Police also recently said that many Ugandans are in the habit of forging Ministry tender documents claiming they have secured large contracts and when these unsuspecting foreigners send the goods to Uganda, the culprits receive the goods and cut all communication links.
Many cases of people being defrauded on cell phones have also been reported.
