Ugandan man conned in Kigali

A 22-year old Ugandan man is stranded in Kigali after he was allegedly conned of his money by his Ugandan friend who reportedly promised to give him a job in Rwanda.

Monday, January 07, 2013
Kawalya at The New Times offices. The New Times / Timoth Kisambira

A 22-year old Ugandan man is stranded in Kigali after he was allegedly conned of his money by his Ugandan friend who reportedly promised to give him a job in Rwanda.David Kawalya, who speaks Luganda and little English, came to Rwanda last week with his ‘friend’, Robert. He narrates that he did not know which kind of job he would be offered but he just wanted any job."My friend assured me that he would get me a job; that there were many jobs in Kigali but when we reached here he asked me to give him the money I had before he disappeared.”The frustrated young man had with him  Ugandan shillings 80,000 (about Rwf20,000) which he thought would sustain him for a few days before getting employed.According to Kawalya, Robert was his friend from Gulama Village  in Buwunga Sub-county in Masaka district. He said Robert speaks both Luganda and Kinyarwanda."My younger brothers and sister depend on me financially. I, therefore, thought I could secure a job in Kigali and start sending the money to my relatives”, he said.Kawalya is the eldest among the four children, including one girl who he claimed he looks after.While stranded, he  met a Good Samaritan who drove him to the Ugandan embassy in Kigali. According to his temporary travel document, he arrived on December 31 through Kagitumba.The head of Ugandan community in Rwanda, Hajji Issa Bogere said they were ready to provide assistance to their compatriot."We are going to either get him transport to go back to Uganda or get him a job,” he said in an interview.