The Ugandan government has acknowleged that Bank of Uganda’s accounts were hacked, resulting in financial losses.
The admission came from Henry Musasizi, the Minister of State for Finance, during a parliamentary session where the matter was raised. However, the figure of UGX 62 billion, widely circulated in media reports, has been refuted by the Ministry of Finance as exaggerated.
While responding to concerns from Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition, Minister Musasizi confirmed the breach but declined to disclose specific details, citing ongoing audits and investigations.
“I wish to state that our accounts were hacked into but not to the extent of what is being reported,” Musasizi remarked, adding that the Auditor General and the Criminal Investigations Department are conducting parallel investigations into the incident.
Ssenyonyi expressed dissatisfaction with the response, urging the government to disclose the actual amount lost and provide a timeline for the completion of the investigations.
“If UGX 62 billion is incorrect, what is the accurate figure? The public deserves clarity,” Ssenyonyi pressed, noting that reports of US$17 million siphoned to accounts in South Asia have added to the speculation.
Ssenyonyi also emphasized the seriousness of a breach at the Central Bank, a pillar of the country’s financial system.
“When the Central Bank’s firewalls are penetrated, it alarms all of us. A responsible government should issue an interim statement to reassure the public,” he said.
Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju joined the call for transparency, criticizing the government for withholding information. “You transact on behalf of the public. Share what you know and what you think would not jeopardize investigations,” he urged.
Minister Musasizi defended the decision to withhold further details, stressing the need to avoid misrepresentation of facts until investigations are concluded. He promised to return to Parliament with a comprehensive report once the Auditor General and CID finalize their work.
The hacking incident adds to a series of recent fraud cases affecting Uganda’s financial sector, raising concerns about cybersecurity and operational integrity in the country’s banking systems.
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