KAMPALA, UGANDA — Eight Ugandan finance ministry officials have been charged with serious financial crimes following a cyberattack on the country’s central bank last year. The incident resulted in the theft of approximately $21 million (approximately 62 billion Ugandan shillings).
Court documents reveal that hackers exploited vulnerabilities in the central bank’s systems, diverting funds intended for international development organizations, including the International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank affiliate.
Investigations indicate that these funds were illicitly transferred to accounts in various countries, including Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
The accused officials, including senior figures within the ministry’s Treasury department, face charges of corruption, electronic fraud, money laundering, and abuse of office.
These charges stem from their alleged involvement in the fraudulent transactions or their failure to implement adequate security measures to safeguard public funds.
One of the key figures implicated is an IT officer accused of manipulating payment instructions to divert funds to a company in Tokyo.
The charges also highlight the alleged negligence of the ministry’s top accountant, who is accused of failing to establish effective systems to prevent such financial breaches.
Following their arraignment in court, the officials were denied bail and remanded to prison. They are scheduled to appear in court again on February 18th for a further hearing.
