The Police in Luweero have in their coolers a man impersonating as a Health and Schools' Inspector to extort money from unsuspecting private schools.
Police identified the suspect as Amos Lule James a resident of Kisowera zone in Kawempe Division, Kampala.
Raymond Jjagwe, the Luweero District Criminal Investigations officer explains that Lule has been picked from Lady Halima Primary School, in Busiika trading centre in Luweero district. He had threatened to close the school for not meeting minimum requirements as stipulated in the Education Act 2008 and minimum standard indicators for education institutions 2010.
Lule had earlier on been accused of extorting money from other schools that include Kauthum, Amazing Grace, Reyan and Suubi Africa Primary Schools.
Jjagwe, adds that Lule visited the schools impersonating as a health inspector and in others as District Inspector of Schools threatening to close them for not meeting the minimum educations standards. He asked for money spare them.
In the process, Lule has been asking for up to 500,000 shillings as a bribe not to close a school.
Florence Bbosa, the Luweero District Education Officer says that they have received several reports of extortion by Lule till when they alerted Police to trail and arrest him. Bbosa adds that Lule is not a district worker but instead was calling himself several names of known staff and titles to extort money from the schools.
Lule has, however, denied the allegations and instead defended himself saying he visited the schools for fumigation services.
Police has since asked officials from all the affected schools to turn up at Luweero Central Police Station to record statements.
By the time Lule allegedly extorted money from schools, the Luweero District Education office had stopped closing the schools operating without requirements and minimum standards. Earlier on 100 schools were closed in Luweero during the exercise to enforce the directive issued by the Ministry of Education.
The ministry has been enforcing a host of minimum standards for schools across the country, advising parents to shun unaccredited schools and those with young matrons aged below 30 years.