Hackers believed to be based in Southeast Asia reportedly breached the Bank of Uganda’s systems, siphoning off billions of shillings in a daring cyber heist.
According to Uganda’s New Vision newspaper, the hackers, operating under the group name “Waste,” stole 62 billion Ugandan shillings (approximately $17 million). Authorities managed to recover 37 billion shillings of the stolen funds. Meanwhile, the Daily Monitor reports a slightly lower theft estimate of 47.8 billion shillings.
The attack, allegedly carried out in September, involved transferring the funds to accounts in Japan and the United Kingdom. The Daily Monitor also suggested that the theft was facilitated by insiders, prompting investigators to question several employees from the central bank and the finance ministry.
The incident is under investigation by police and Uganda’s auditor general.
