Details emerge on UGX 60 billion heist from Bank of Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an investigation into reports that hackers stole UGX 60 billion from the Bank of Uganda.

“It is true, President Museveni instructed the Auditor General to investigate the matter,” said a dependable source who preferred anonymity to speak freely.

The orders were handed to the Auditor General’s office, which will work closely with other investigative agencies.

“The Auditor General will establish the amount of money lost in the hacking and then police will follow up on where there is criminal liability,” the source said.

Reports indicate that the heist occurred recently, with money being wired to foreign countries in Asia and Europe.

The Bank of Uganda is yet to issue a statement on the matter. Efforts to obtain a comment from the central bank’s management were unsuccessful.

Sources say the investigation is in high gear, with top officials to be questioned by police and the Auditor General.

The sources further said President Museveni was informed of “unscrupulous behavior within the procurement department of the central bank” which became clear to suppliers during the procurement process of the Bank of Uganda National Payments Switch (BNPS) in 2023.

The central bank has in recent years been plagued by scandals including theft of old currency notes by its officials. Earlier this year, the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero sentenced Charles Kasede Ochieng, former Head of Verification at the Bank of Uganda (BoU), to three years in prison for abusing his position to steal old currency notes meant for destruction.