A staggering $17 million has been stolen from the Ugandan Central Bank, sparking a heated controversy over who is responsible for the audacious heist.
According to a report by New Vision, hackers breached the bank’s systems, making off with 62 billion shillings ($17 million) from its accounts.
The stolen amount was actually 47.8 billion shillings
Citing sources, New Vision claims that the attack was carried out by a group known as “Waste” based in Southeast Asia. However, a conflicting report by Daily Monitor suggests that the stolen amount was actually 47.8 billion shillings, which was transferred to two accounts in Japan and the UK in September.
What’s more, Daily Monitor’s report points to an “inside job,” with several employees at the central bank and the finance ministry being questioned. Investigators are also exploring this angle, which is supported by the Bank of Uganda’s audit report.
Although the bank has managed to recover about 37 billion shillings of the stolen amount, investigations are still ongoing.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of financial institutions to cyberattacks and the need for robust security measures to prevent such breaches.
As the investigation unfolds, one thing is clear: the people of Uganda demand answers and accountability for this brazen heist.
