In a dramatic raid, authorities in Osukuru Town Council, Tororo, have busted a massive counterfeit cement operation, uncovering a years-long illegal trade with alleged ties to district leaders and police officers.
Over 700 bags of fake cement were seized, and five suspects arrested—but the real shocker? High-ranking officials may be complicit.
The Raid: How the Racket Was Unmasked
Acting on intelligence reports, a CID team led by Milton Birunji stormed two stores in T-Caf Cell, T-Caf Ward, where they discovered:
- 380 bags of fake cement in one store
- 356 bags in another
Tororo’s Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Sadiq Bategana Bakale, didn’t mince words:
“This is a national security threat. Fake cement weakens buildings—imagine if it’s used for schools, hospitals, or even military storage.”
Who’s Protecting the Racket?
Anonymous security sources have dropped a bombshell: Top officials were allegedly on the payroll.
- Tororo LCV Chairperson John Okea
- Regional Police Commander (RPC) Fred Ahimbisibwe
- Deputy RDC Albert Amula
According to confessions, suspects paid these officials UGX 400,000 plus 200 liters of fuel monthly to keep the operation running.
How the Scam Worked: Dust Sold as Cement
Investigators revealed the disturbing formula behind the counterfeit cement:
- 500kg of fine dust (sourced from Isimba Quarry in Njeru, Jinja)
- Mixed with just 50kg of real cement
- Repackaged in stolen Tororo Cement-branded bags
- Sold to unsuspecting builders
“This isn’t just fraud—it’s playing with lives,” said CID’s Milton Birunji.
Tororo: A Repeat Offender?
This isn’t the first time Tororo has been linked to fake cement. With more arrests expected, authorities vow to dismantle the entire network.
Tororo Cement’s response? Silence. Repeated calls to the managing director went unanswered.
