The Chief Executive Director of Gatatu Safaris Limited, Richard Tusasibwe has been arrested for allegedly obtaining money by false pretence from tourists.

Tusasiibwe who runs the tour company based in Kigezi sub region was on Monday at around 10:00AM was taken into the custody of tourism Police on allegations that he fleeced tourists led by Tourism Police Commander-in-charge of Kigezi Region, Emmanuel Tinka.

According to Police, Tusasibwe is alleged to signed a contract worth 2150 US dollars equivalent to about shillings 7.9 million with a tourist identified as Dr. Lentschig Markus Gunter, a German national to facilitate a tour with his four family members in Uganda.

However, when the tourists reached Kisoro town, Tusasibwe abandoned them at Chameleon Hill Hotel and disappeared. They reported the matter to police for help that Tusasibwe was tracked.

Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region says, Tusasibwe had been on the run for two weeks till Monday when he was arrested at Arcadia Cottages neat Lake Bunyonyi. The suspect will face the law after investigations into the matter are complete.

“As tourism Police, we are committed to cleaning up quack tour operators who con our tourists. Uganda remains a peaceful and secure country and all efforts, together with stakeholders, are to ensure that law and order is upheld in the tourism sector and the country at large,” he said.

“Rogue tour operators are a peril to the growth and development of the sector. We will continue to work with the tourism Police and other players in the sector to ensure that the vice is brought to a conclusive end,” said Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) quality assurance manager, Samora Semakula.

Semakula said UTB is working to ensure that quality standards and the law are upheld in the tourism sector and that rogue operators face the law.