The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) has arrested nine officials from the Ministry of Finance in connection with the loss of UGX 60 billion at the Bank of Uganda.
The arrests were confirmed by Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke during a press briefing.
According to Rusoke, the arrests follow ongoing investigations into the mysterious disappearance of billions of shillings linked to fraudulent activities.
“I wish to confirm that today, nine persons were apprehended by our CID directorate. We have been investigating this case for some time, and the news has been circulating,” Rusoke said.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Kusima Deborah, Muhurizi Deborah, Semakula Lawrence, Mubarak Nansamba, Tony Yaweh, Lumala Paul, Kasuku Mark, and Defira Najebwa.
Rusoke revealed that the suspects were summoned for questioning before being taken into custody. “In the course of our investigation, we summoned the nine officers from the Ministry of Finance, and we now have them in our custody,” he added.
The police spokesperson assured the public that the investigations are progressing steadily and that further updates will be provided as the probe unfolds.
This case has sparked public concern about accountability and transparency in government institutions, with many urging authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and prosecution of those involved.
In late 2024, the Bank of Uganda (BoU) was targeted in a significant fraud incident involving the unauthorized transfer of approximately $15 million (about UGX 62 billion).
The central bank reported that two payments were illicitly diverted in September 2024. The first, on September 12, intended for the World Bank, amounted to $6.1 million but was redirected to an entity named Roadway Co Ltd through MUFG Bank in Japan. The second payment, on September 21, was also misappropriated. BoU has successfully recovered $8.2 million of the stolen funds and is actively working to retrieve the remaining amount.