Bishop warns Church schools against unauthorised donors after Hut 8 losses

The Bishop said no Church of Uganda-founded institution under the South Rwenzori Diocese should accept donations without authorisation.

“Avoid those people who come with items in the form of donations to your institutions! Yesterday I saw a video circulating on social media of a certain group, and on their banner was written ‘HUT 8’. They were at Kinyamaseke Primary School, a Church of Uganda-founded school, delivering items that they had donated, including food and non-foodstuffs,” Bishop Baluku said on Wednesday.

He was speaking during a confirmation ceremony at St John's Church of Uganda in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Council.

The Bishop directed heads of departments and institutions, particularly primary and secondary schools, to obtain written authorisation before accepting donations.

“Before I personally write to you, not even the Diocesan Secretary, that I have authorised a group of people or a company to bring items to your school, don’t make an error of receiving them. If you happen to do so even after this directive, I will order your transfer from a church institution,” he warned.

Subscribers report losses

The directive comes amid reports that Hut 8 attracted residents in Kasese and surrounding areas with promises of high returns on relatively small investments.

Several subscribers who spoke to this publication said they were encouraged to purchase what were described as online “machines” at different prices, with promises of substantial returns within a short period.

Some were also encouraged to recruit other people through referral links.

Subscribers said some of them initially received withdrawals, which increased their confidence in the platform and encouraged them to invest more money and introduce friends and relatives.

However, several subscribers reportedly became unable to withdraw their money at the beginning of this week after the platform became inaccessible.

Some now claim to have lost millions of shillings.

Jane Kabugho, a vendor at Kisanga A Market, commonly known as Mawa Market in Kasese town, said she was introduced to the platform through a link and initially invested Shs50,000.

“I bought a machine at Shs50,000 and I was promised to make a profit of Shs755,000 after 30 days, and it is true I got that money. After withdrawing the money, I was surely convinced to invest more,” she said.

Kabugho said she had expected to withdraw more than Shs6 million, excluding commissions, when the platform became inaccessible.

She also said she had shared the link with other people who subsequently joined the platform.

Nguru Kajungu from Kyondo Sub-county in Bukonzo County East said the returns promised by the platform had become so attractive that he had begun considering leaving his teaching profession for business.

Kajungu said he joined after a friend showed him evidence of withdrawing Shs800,000 from the platform.

“I had started praising the person who introduced me to Hut 8. He is my good friend and he had withdrawn Shs800,000 from the machines he had purchased. That testimony alone softened my heart, and I surely believed it was true,” he said.

He said he had planned to use the expected returns to build a house, buy land, establish commercial buildings, purchase motorcycles for income generation and acquire a vehicle.

Joshua Businge, a boda boda rider in Fort Portal City, said he lost about Shs4 million invested through two accounts.

“If all things had gone well, I was going to withdraw over Shs70 million on August 10, but when the 30 days came, I was told to wait. When I attempted to withdraw the money, the link I had been using before would not open,” he said.

Businge said some of the money had been borrowed through an association and that he was now struggling to determine where to report the matter.

“Many friends of mine; we are all stuck, crying together. We don’t know where to report because this is an online business; we don’t know the owner of Hut 8,” he said.

Three businesswomen in Kasese town — Mariam Namirimu, Annet Kabugho and Oliver Businge — also said they had invested in the platform after being attracted by the prospect of improving their financial independence.

Namirimu, a single mother, said she had hoped the investment would improve the welfare of her children.

“Our dreams have been shattered! I am a single mother and actually was hoping to have a completely financially independent lifestyle, give my two children a rich mummy’s treat and change the face of our home, which has been my long-time dream,” she said.

Businge said she and other businesswomen had planned to expand their businesses and begin importing goods directly from China.

Charity activities

Before the reported problems with the investment platform, people associated with Hut 8 had reportedly conducted charity activities in Kasese, donating food and other items to selected schools and institutions.

Recipients reportedly included Rukoki Model Primary School in Nyamwamba Division, RAP-CD in Central Division of Kasese and Kinyamaseke Primary School in Kinyamaseke Town Council.

The donated items included maize and cassava flour, rice, sugar, washing and bathing soap, washing powder and buckets.

Bishop Baluku warned residents against being persuaded by seemingly generous offers without first establishing the identity, registration and intentions of the organisation involved.

“Yes, we know the conditions and the economy is quite harsh. Someone can bring you a sack of flour or any other foodstuffs, and you will be happy at that moment, forgetting about the possible outcomes. We need to be vigilant and conscious!” he said.

Former State Minister for ICT in charge of National Guidance Godfrey Baluku Kabbyanga Kiime said government should not automatically be held responsible for money lost through online investment schemes that have not been authorised or verified by authorities.

Kabbyanga urged Ugandans to conduct due diligence before investing and to be cautious about platforms promising unusually high returns.

“No person or company can give you Shs700,000 after investing only Shs50,000 in a month,” he said.

He also warned the public against downloading or using applications whose ownership and operations cannot be established.

“The government is seriously fighting cybercrimes, but you also need to be alert! Don’t log on to apps you are not sure of,” he said.