Police has asked members of the public to always first verify land before purchasing it to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.
According to Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, many people have fallen prey to conmen in the name of selling or buying land.
“In one of these incidents, police at Jinja road is investigating an incident of obtaining money by false pretence after one Alice Nayebare got into talks with one Francis Kimbowa to purchase land in Mubende measuring 100 acres and each acre was sold at shs3.5 million and upon finishing all payments, she went to the ground to check, only to find 25 of the 100 acres were not there and half of 75 remaining was having squatters and had been rented out to other people”, Owoyesigyire said.
He noted that Nayebare found out that he had literally been sold hot air and efforts to recover the money from Kimbowa were futile, prompting him to report the matter to police.
He said the suspect, Francis Kimbowa was summoned to police and he made a statement later released whereas the file is set to be taken to the Resident State Attorney for advice but urged members of the public to always be vigilant before purchasing anything.