The proprietor of Skylines Tours and Travel Company, Chris Asiimwe, popularly known as Don Chris, defrauded hundreds of Ugandans of over Shs 1.7 billion in a bogus overseas jobs scam, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) has revealed.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Patrick Onyango, Asiimwe promised job placements abroad to unsuspecting victims but failed to fulfil the promise. CID investigations indicate that between 2023 and 2024, Asiimwe conned 350 job seekers of approximately Shs 1.75 billion.
Each victim reportedly paid between Shs 3.5 million and Shs 10 million for the promised placements in countries such as Canada, the UK, Qatar, Dubai, and Luxembourg. He said initially, police had registered 85 complainants, but the number has now risen to over 350, and the total amount swindled is around Shs 1.75 billion.
During a search of the company’s offices, police found the premises abandoned. However, several exhibits were recovered to aid the ongoing investigations.
“The offices were abandoned, but we recovered some important exhibits. Don Chris is wanted for fraud, and police are tracking leads to apprehend him. We urge other victims who haven’t registered their complaints to come forward and assist in these investigations,” Onyango added.
Sources close to the probe suggest that Asiimwe may have fled the country. Preliminary findings also indicate that Skylines Tours and Travel was a fictitious entity, created to defraud desperate job seekers with fake promises of employment abroad.
The victims were allegedly offered “loan-based” travel arrangements, where they were required to pay at least half of the total fees upfront, with promises of paying the rest later once employed.
The case adds to the growing list of fraudulent travel agencies that have sprung up across Uganda, exploiting high unemployment levels and the desperation of young people seeking opportunities abroad.
Despite government crackdowns on illegal recruitment firms, many continue to operate under different names, perpetuating a cycle of deception and financial loss for unsuspecting citizens.
I saw him in a clip boasting in. Let all the international agencies in the world hunt him down and when caught put him in a cooler and throw the key to the crocodiles.
What is in a name ?
Chris Asimwe
Christ has appreciated -crude interpretation (scammed desperate Ugandans of 2 billion Ugandan shillings)
Junior Tukwasibwe
“Give the young to him” – religious context and vernacular interpretation ( sentenced for aggravated defilement and rape).
What is with these people and their misleading vernacular mixed with religious names ?
My interpretation is based on me being a bantu speaker.
Just musing, I am ever drunk, hiccup!
Mr. Marc Mae, do not wonder why he was boasting…Let me shock you-MBU Agasirwe hired a killer to kill Kagezi, the killer killed Kagezi who he had no problem with.
Agasirwe refused/failed to pay the balance and this cold blooded killer failed to kill Agasirwe( does that make sense ?)
Don Chris might have been working for an “untouchable” person and that is why he was boasting- he might not even have that money.