In Uganda, the promise of a US visa represents not just a ticket to a new life but also hope for families and communities left behind.
The United States has long been seen as a land of opportunities, attracting individuals from around the globe seeking to improve their livelihoods, including education and employment.
A reliable source revealed to this website that some of the youth who organized and participated in the march to Parliament protests were promised an automatic visa for the US.
“The Ugandan Youths have fallen victims of a well-organized visa scam; many had been wooed into participating in the March to Parliament protests, as they were promised opportunities for travel and employment in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Canada, only to find out later that they had been scammed,” the source said.
According to a source, the youth are now disappointed after realizing that they had been scammed.
They have since expressed total dissatisfaction in the manner in which Chapter 4 (NGO) and Agora Disclosure used them for their personal gain.
“They took advantage of the desperation and dreams of many Ugandans, offering fraudulent visa applications and services that led to financial loss and shattered expectations,” the source said.
Other sources indicate that the leadership of the National Unity Platform has also taken advantage of arrested protestors and is contacting them to accept representation by their lawyers on condition that they accept to say that they are NUP supporters and agree to seek political asylum in Canada with the help of NUP leadership.
“Some of the protestors under custody have revealed to their families that some lawyers claiming to be members of NUP have approached them with promises of representing them in court, and all they have to do is agree that they are political prisoners, and then they will get those visas to Canada,” the source added.
Government officials have acknowledged the increase in visa scams and have urged citizens to verify the legitimacy of visa services and to report any suspicious activities and emphasized the importance of public awareness and staying alert, especially during these times when foreign forces are deliberately interfering with the internal management of the country and wooing youths with visas and jobs abroad.
