East London benefit fraud gang sentenced

Ruth Nabuguza was jailed for six years

Eight people have been sentenced for their parts in a £4m benefit fraud.

The gang built up a number of false identities in order to make fraudulent benefit claims, the UK Border Agency said.

Croydon Crown Court heard that some of the proceeds of the scam were used to build a complex of luxury flats and shops and a hotel in Uganda.

Sentences handed out ranged from six years in jail to suspended terms. A ninth person is still to be sentenced.

Ruth Nabuguza, 49, from Church Road, Newham, east London, was jailed for six years after admitting 27 offences.

Mathy Matumba, 50, from Leyton, east London, was sentenced to four years imprisonment. She pleaded guilty to 28 charges.

Lina Katongola, 29, from Reading, Berkshire, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting four offences.

Dennis Kyeyune, 29, of Mitcham Road, Newham, east London, was jailed for 13 months after being found guilty on three counts.

'Way of life'

Lamulah Sekiziyuvu, 36, of Palmerston Road, Newham, was jailed for three years. She was found guilty of one charge.

Albert Kaidi, 27, of South Esk Road, Newham, was jailed for 30 months after being convicted of two charges.

Jordan Sebutemba, 26, also of South Esk Road, was given a 51-week sentence, suspended for two years after being found guilty of one charge.

Eddie Semanda, 31, of Sheridan Road, Newham, was given a four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months. He admitted one charge.

Some of the proceeds of the scam were used to build a complex of luxury flats in Uganda

Rob Allen, from the UK Border Agency, said: "This was a way of life for them.

"They went to great lengths to undertake this conspiracy and they built up a number of identities over a long period of time in order to deceive those that were able to give them benefits.

"They did that in a number of complicated ways and it did take a long period of time for our investigators to unravel that fraud

"But we did catch them in the end and that will be is the message we would like to send out to people who are thinking about trying this, is that we will catch up with you.