BANK OF UGANDA ACCOUNTS HACKED; perpetrators tried to steal Sh2.45bn

Ugandan government officials and hackers have since last July attempted four times to siphon USh81 billion (Sh2.45 billion) through the Uganda central bank.

However, some monies of the money that had successfully been wired to Hong Kong and UAE was retrieved through inter-bank procedures, the latest being $8 million (Sh800 million) transferred on February 26, 2016.

The accounts targeted were those of the largest budget holders, among them the Defence, Energy and Agriculture ministries as well as the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

The first attempt aimed at the biggest amount happened in July 2015 and $12 million (Sh1.2 billion) was targeted. The plot was foiled, and the masterminds went below the radar, re-emerging in December 2015 to try to steal $2 million (Sh200 million).

A month later, in January 2016, they made another attempt to fork out Sh800 million but were detected in time before returning to compromise the system last month.

Although the Ministry of Finance first notified Uganda Police of the breaches 10 months ago, its detectives did not act immediately, prompting the military, whose budget was targeted, to swing into action and arrest three suspects who are in police custody.

SOURCE: DAILY NATION