A new and alarming trend of well-dressed scammers exploiting public sympathy is emerging in Kampala, sparking concern across social media and among residents.
The warning was first raised by political analyst Angelo Izama, who took to X (formerly Twitter) on August 1, 2025, to share a strange encounter at City Oil Kamwokya.
“Guys, so I am trying to order an Uber and guy next to me (suit, no tie, glasses) says on the phone, ‘Doctor, you mean to tell me you have switched off oxygen from my child because I don’t have 260 thousand?’ Lost him in the Uber drama, but what is that? Doctors?”
While Izama expressed confusion over the incident, responses to his post quickly revealed a pattern of deception. Several people reported similar experiences, with men dressed in corporate attire using emotionally charged phone conversations to elicit sympathy—and money—from strangers.
One user, Brenda Akankunda, replied:
“I think it’s a scam. Someone dressed exactly like that said the same thing next to me at Kabira. I just pulled out 250k and gave it to him. Kale, my hard-earned money. The guy just drove away in a white Harrier. I thought I had saved a life.”
Another respondent, Ampumuza, described a separate but equally suspicious encounter:
“Recently, a visibly distraught policeman jumped in front of my car at Kisasi roundabout. When I lowered the glass, he jumped into the car and said his wife was in danger in Kireka. I offered him 20K and asked him to find someone heading that way—only to find him later in Kira!”
These incidents have sparked growing concerns that organized fraudsters are preying on the goodwill of Ugandans by staging emergencies in public spaces, often using children or medical crises as bait.
While police have not yet issued an official statement, social media users are urging the public to be cautious and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
As these “conmen in suits” blend seamlessly into urban settings, their tactics highlight the need for greater public awareness and stronger community vigilance to counter such emotionally manipulative scams.
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