FRAUD ALERT! WEST NILE POLICE CALLS FOR VIGILANCE AS SCHOOL OPENS

By Morish Dramadri

Arua city

Police in West Nile have cautioned parents against entrusting their children in the hands of people or organization who come in the name of offering scholarships for their children without clear knowledge of the authorities, calling for vigilance among the public.

This warning comes at a time when many parents are battling financial stress of school fees payment as schools open for the academic year 2025.

West Nile regional community liaisons officer who doubles as the acting regional police public relations officer, SP. Collins Asea made this revelation while speaking to the media on Tuesday.

“Be careful, fraudsters are there, people will come in different names in the name of scholarships that they are going to give you scholarship for your child you must first pay money, you can imagine someone is going to help you free but is telling you first pay some money! Parents be mindful, be aware they are already in town, pay your schools fees, they say scholarship fee is 120,000 shillings, instead of paying your school fees you are paying your money to someone who is going to take your money and there is no scholarship,” SP. Asea cautioned.

Over the years, many cases of fraud targeting parents by unsuspected persons or group of people have were registered by the police at the commencement of academic terms with many people losing money and children abused in hard labor and others especially girls ending up to be sexually abused.

Arua city principal education officer Ombere Raymond O’biayi however challenged parents to take responsibility of their children.

“When people come to you insist on introduction letter, government of Uganda universalized education at primary, secondary and even higher secondary partly to support the struggling parents and families to access education, instead of looking for very free things we should be really working hard so that we avoid handing our children to whom it may concern, let the education of our children be our concern,” Ombere implored.  

Among other responsibilities of the parents in the education of their children including provision of food, shelter, scholastic materials, clothing among others.
 
 

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