By Andrew Irumba
Mbale: Over 200 Ugandans in Mbale district are crying foul after being diddled millions of shillings by a company selling motorcycles.
The victims claim that each of them paid Shillings 627,000 as initial capital to acquire a motorcycle on loan after the company, called KE Motor Cycle and Spare parts promised to deliver the motorcycles on June 26th, 2019. However, it is past the promised date but many of the people who deposited money with the company have not received their motorcycles and the company has since closed.
The victims say they paid K.E Motor Cycle and Spare parts to secure motorcycles on loan but they are nowhere to be seen. K.E Motor Cycle and Spare parts in Mbale purportedly deals in selling and buying new and used motorcycles. The victims also say that the company started operating in Mbale three months ago but closed shop last week, leaving many Bamasaba shedding buckets of tears. Majority of the affected are Boda boda riders from Mbale and neighboring districts.
The company has been operating in Industrial area, off Freight road in Mbale Municipality. Money would be paid in three modes of payment which include through the bank, cash and mobile money. Ben Mukanda, a resident of Namisindwa district, says that “I heard about the company on radio asking people to pay Shillings 627,000. The company asked us to pick up their motorcycles within three weeks but I was surprised to find the offices closed.”
Paul Magenge, a resident of Palisa district, says when he heard information about the motorcycle off on radio, he borrowed money to raise in the initial capital required. He says after receiving news that the company offices had closed, they stormed the RDC’s office who asked them to calm down until the day they were promised by the company. James Walimbwa, the LC I chairperson Mbale Industrial are, says when the company set up shop, they notified the district but no action was taken.
Robert Sagena, the Regional Manager of Security 2000, which has been guarding the company offices, says KE company officials left one fateful evening and have never resurfaced, and has unpaid bills for both rent and guard services. John Robert Tukei, the Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, says police are investigating whether the company was vetted by the district before it started operating or not.
