Almost a dozen Ugandan government officials have been detained owing to their alleged affiliation with a major financial crime.
- 9 Ugandan officials detained due to alleged involvement in major financial crime.
- Connection to hacking of central bank’s electronic systems and theft of 62 billion shillings ($16.87 million).
- Highest-ranking officer in the ministry’s Treasury division among those arrested.
Recent reports indicate that 9 Ugandan officials in the office of the finance ministry were detained by the police in connection to a hack job that took place in November of 2024.
The Ugandan police force revealed that these 9 suspects may have ties to the hacking of the central bank’s electronic systems that resulted in the theft of 62 billion shillings ($16.87 million).
The finance ministry and police also disclosed that, among those arrested is the highest-ranking officer in the ministry’s Treasury division.
The finance ministry posted on its X account late Tuesday that multiple employees who were part of the accountant general’s office “were summoned and detained by the Criminal Investigations Department to facilitate the conclusion of the investigations.”
Although Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke revealed the names of officials detained to NTV television, the ministry itself has insisted on withholding the names.
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“We have been having an investigation into the billions of Shillings that mysteriously disappeared. In the course of the investigation, we summoned nine officers from the Ministry of Finance. I wish to confirm that today nine persons were apprehended,” the police spokesman stated.
How the money was hacked from Uganda
Earlier in September 2024 it was reported that the East African country suffered two major cyber attacks, which lost Uganda substantial money, according to the Monitor.
According to Price Waterhouse Coopers’ (PwC) information systems audit codename “Project Tai,” the fraud involved accountants and computer specialists manipulating financial data within the government’s digital cash transaction portal, the Integrated Facility Management System (IFMS).
The first was the theft of $6.134 million (Shs22.3 billion), but Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, either by deed or negligence, kept the situation under wraps until the IDA pointed out the late payment in October.
The funds were meant for the World Bank’s International Development Association, a division of the organization dedicated to aiding low-income nations.
According to sources, the situation wasn’t submitted to the Auditor General’s office for another month.
Another $8.596 billion (Shs 31.2 billion) payment that was meant for the African World Development Bank development fund was traced to a London-based bank account.
