The family of a soldier, who died while serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), has been defrauded of sh120m by a businessman in Masindi.

Apparently, AMISOM paid sh124m to the family of David Kyaligonza alias Muswahili as compensation for the loss of Ashraf Ntegeka, a UPDF soldier, who was killed in Mogadishu in February last year. Ntegeka was part of the UPDF contingent in Somalia.

Masindi resident district commissioner David Matovu yesterday said Kyaligonza connived with Oliver Babisisa, a sister of the deceased, to fraudulently receive the money on behalf of the family.

He said the money was paid to Kyaligonza through a Centenary Bank account that he opened at the Masindi branch with Babisisa.

Matovu said Kyaligonza and Babisisa paid sh10m to Augustine Kahehera and sh250,000 to Gladys Miteto.

Kahehera and Miteto are Ntegeka's parents. Matovu said the matter was brought to the attention of the district authorities after Miteto approached him to establish if the UPDF had only given her sh250,000 as compensation for the loss of her son in Somalia.

The RDC said Kyaligonza and Babisisa sought assistance from the UPDF pension department to receive the money.

"We are treating this as a serious matter. How could Babisisa get this money without anyone noticing?" Matovu wondered.

The Police confirmed that Kyaligonza was arrested, but released last week on bond as investigations continue.

Matovu said the Police and the army were conducting joint investigations into the matter, with the view of establishing the parties involved.

"We want to find out how many people were involved because it seems even the father of the deceased could have been in the know since he received more money than his wife," he added.

Matovu said by the time Kyaligonza was arrested, the account had only sh49m on it. "The good thing is that we have got a confession from him. We are working with the Police to establish the charges that should be preferred against him," he added.