Brac staff arrested over illegal detention of loan defaulters

Police in Kabale is holding four workers of Brac Uganda Finance Limited for illegally detaining loan defaulters.

The suspects are Branch Manager Gloria Kyomukama, Ruth Niwaturiho the Loans officer, Sharon Kanyesigyire and Mellon Komugisha all Credit officers.

The suspects are accused of illegally detaining Consolata Kyomukama and Merab Tukamuhabwa all residents of Bubare Sub County in Rubanda district.

The two had reportedly failed to honour their loan obligations.

Kyomukama has an outstanding loan balance of Shs 1 million while Tukamuhabwa’s loan has accumulated to Shs 800,000.

Tukamuhabwa said she obtained an initial principal of Shs 400,000 from Brac Uganda Finance Limited which she, however, failed to pay on time.

She was picked from her home on November 22 and detained in a room at Brac Uganda offices in Kabale.

A few minutes later, she was joined by Kyomukama over the same issue.

Tukamuhabwa said that they were starved as one of the punishments to pay back the loan, until Tuesday evening when they managed to escape and rushed to Kabale police station for help.

Majid Alituha, the Officer-in-Charge of Operations at Kabale Police Station said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday and are now held at Kabale Police station as investigations into the matter go on.

Kigezi Region Police Commander Denis Namuwoza said that his office had received complaints of persons who were illegally detained by Brac Uganda for failing to clear loans.

The suspects declined to comment on the accusations. This is not the first time Brac Uganda Finance Limited Kabale branch is accused of illegally detaining its clients over loan defaulting.On March 24, Ruth Niweturiho, the then Credit Officer was arrested for illegally detaining Kasaza Kesiime, a resident of Bushuro in Kitumba Sub County, Kabale district. Kesiime was detained for four days over a failure to repay a loan of Shs 570,000.

Kesiimwe was saved by the Kabale District Chairperson Patrick Besigye Keihwa who stormed the place with police.