A group of about 100 job seekers is accusing Skypins Tours and Travel, a labor export company based in Ntinda, Kampala, Uganda, of defrauding them of large sums of money. The company, which claims to facilitate employment opportunities abroad, allegedly promised these individuals jobs in countries like Canada but has failed to fulfill its commitments.
According to several victims, the scam began in 2022 when they were recruited by the agency. They were told they would be provided with visas within two months, with Canada being their destination. To secure the job offers, each job seeker was required to pay up to 15 million Ugandan shillings for processing fees, including visa application, medical exams, certificates of good conduct from Interpol, insurance, and membership fees.
Some victims, eager to leave quickly, were promised expedited visa processing for an additional payment of 20 million shillings. However, after months of waiting, none of them have been able to travel, and they have been left stranded in a cycle of false promises.
The victims, mostly women, have tried to reach out to Skypins for their money back, but their efforts have been met with evasion. Communication with the company has become increasingly difficult since June 2023, with calls going unanswered and messages ignored. Frustrated, the victims filed complaints with the police, which led to investigations.
It has been reported that the police recently raided Skypins’ offices in search of the company’s owner, Don Chris, but he reportedly managed to escape arrest. Sources close to the investigation say that Don Chris is now in hiding and has claimed to be out of the country. Employees at the office allegedly told the police that he had locked himself in his office and disappeared.
Efforts to contact Skypins for comment have been unsuccessful, but one of the company’s agents, Brian Wako, previously denied the allegations, citing issues with Canadian visa approvals. He also claimed that refunds were being offered to those who had paid, provided they had receipts. Another official at the company stated that Skypins only assisted with processing the visas but did not guarantee them, claiming that it was the responsibility of the Canadian embassy.
However, the victims dispute this claim, insisting that they were assured of receiving visas when they signed their contracts. They assert that no such disclaimer was mentioned during the recruitment process and that they were misled into paying substantial amounts of money under false pretenses. The victims are now demanding justice and hoping for a resolution through the ongoing police investigations.