🛡️ Umoja Greenlands Anti-Scamming Policy & Transparency Statement
At Umoja Greenlands, we are committed to building a future based on collaboration, trust, sustainability, and mutual support.
However, our journey has also exposed us to serious acts of dishonesty and scamming, harming both our projects and the communities we serve.
This page documents our experiences, explains our strict Anti-Scamming Policy, and informs the public about our measures to prevent, expose, and combat dishonesty moving forward.
Our Experiences with Scamming
1. Prototype Affordable Shelter Project Betrayal
We began a project to build a prototype affordable shelter on land we agreed to rent for four years, with the rent being covered by the construction cost of the house itself.
However, after the house was completed:
Jacob Kanado, the landowner, changed his mind, demanded an additional $1,500, and stole the house and all its contents.
This betrayal caused major financial loss and halted the project’s impact.
2. Construction Fraud and Resource Misuse
We entrusted the construction management to Joe (Geofrey Ochieng). Instead:
Joe diverted materials and funds to secretly build a second house for himself.
He manipulated Umoja Greenlands into purchasing him a new phone, refreshments, and other personal luxuries.
He grossly abused trust and mismanaged project resources, further harming community development.
3. Theft of Community Seed Funds
Both Jacob Kanado and Joe (Geofrey Ochieng) also received $70 each from funds allocated for community seed distribution and stole the money for personal use, betraying both Umoja Greenlands and the communities that needed this support.
Ongoing Scam Activities by Jacob and Joe
Sadly, both individuals continue to scam others today:
Jacob Kanado’s Fraudulent Fundraising
Jacob Kanado is using Facebook to pretend he is raising money for fake permaculture projects:
🔗 Jacob Kanado’s Scam Facebook Profile
Joe (Geofrey Ochieng)’s False Orphan Story
Joe is now pretending to be a homeless orphan in need of assistance to scam unsuspecting donors, using another Facebook profile:
🔗 Joe (Geofrey Ochieng)’s Scam Facebook Profile
Through this scam, he approached Umoja Greenlands, falsely claiming hardship, and defrauded us of nearly 5,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD) — funds that were meant for real community projects.
Â
Our Strict Funding Principles
Umoja Greenlands only funds sustainable community projects that directly support:
Access to clean water (such as boreholes and rainwater harvesting tanks).
Food security (such as emergency seed distribution, community gardens, and permaculture initiatives).
Funding is only given when:
We are in direct contact with the official, recognized local authority, such as elected Chiefs, community leaders, or registered community organizations.
The project has been selected and approved by the community leadership.
Important:
No individual requests are ever accepted under any circumstances.
All proposals must come from legitimate community authorities.
This policy protects community integrity, prevents fraud, and ensures that our limited resources are used fairly and effectively.
Umoja Greenlands Anti-Scamming Policy
âś… Zero Tolerance:
Any proven scammer will be immediately disassociated, publicly exposed, and reported to authorities.
âś… Transparency and Accountability:
All projects and financial transactions will be fully documented, audited, and open to review.
âś… Strict Partner Vetting:
Background checks and strict onboarding processes will apply to any future partners, contractors, and volunteers.
âś… Written Agreements for All Projects:
All collaborations will be formalized with contracts, including strict penalties for breaches.
âś… Community Awareness and Education:
We will train our communities on how to recognize scams, report scams, and protect shared resources.
âś… Reporting Mechanism:
Anyone suspecting fraud or dishonesty related to Umoja Greenlands activities must report it immediately.
âś… Commitment to Public Exposure:
In our duty to protect others, Umoja Greenlands will publicly name and expose scammers to prevent them from harming others elsewhere.
How to Report Scams
If you encounter suspicious activities linked to Umoja Greenlands or our projects:
📧 Email us: contact@umojagreenlands.org
🌍 Visit our Anti-Scam Resource Center (coming soon)
You can also report scams directly to national authorities:
In Uganda:
National Information Technology Authority: www.nita.go.ug
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC): 0800222777 or www.ucc.co.ug
In Kenya:
Safaricom Fraud Hotline: Forward suspicious SMS to 333 or call 0722000000
Kenya Police Service Emergency Line: 999
Conclusion
At Umoja Greenlands, we are deeply sorry for the setbacks caused by betrayals and scams.
We have learned painful lessons, but we are now stronger, smarter, and more determined than ever to safeguard our vision.
Our mission is to build honest, trust-based communities rooted in solidarity, resilience, and regeneration.
We invite all who share these values to walk with us — firmly, transparently, and compassionately — toward a future of integrity and abundance.
Together, we rise.
đź“Ł Important Reminder
If you are approached by anyone claiming to represent Umoja Greenlands, always verify through our official communication channels.
Only trust communications from official @umojagreenlands.org emails or our verified website.
The Widespread Scamming Crisis
Scamming is not just a problem affecting Umoja Greenlands — it is a global crisis that severely threatens trust, development, and progress everywhere.
According to the UNDP Anti-Scam Handbook (2024):
Global scam losses are estimated at over 1 trillion USD annually, affecting individuals, communities, and entire economies.
Developing countries like Kenya and Uganda are particularly vulnerable due to fast digitalization but slow protective safeguards.
Scamming undermines trust in authorities, institutions, and digital systems, delaying critical progress like water access, food security, education, and poverty reduction.
Emotional, mental health, and social harms caused by scams are often even worse than the financial losses.
Scammers today operate like organized crime industries using sophisticated digital tools, making the problem even harder to fight.
đź“– Access to Full Reference
To help the public understand the seriousness of this issue, we recommend reading the full UNDP Anti-Scam Handbook (v1.0).
This document provides essential knowledge for communities, donors, and leaders to better protect themselves and create resilient systems.
Learn More About the Global Scam Crisis
Scamming is a widespread global crisis threatening community resilience, trust, and sustainable development. We invite you to consult the full UNDP Anti-Scam Handbook for further understanding and reference.
