Despite Tight Security, 19-Year-Old Busts Uganda Central Bank, Steal 7 High-End Laptops

Police have arrested two suspects, including a teenager, in connection with the burglary at the Bank of Uganda headquarters in Kampala, during which seven high-end laptops were reportedly stolen.

According to police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke, the suspects are 19-year-old Boaz Kule, a resident of Wabigalo, and his alleged accomplice, Ramadhan Kabuye, also known as Rhama, from Nsambya Zone C in Makindye Division.

The duo was apprehended by operatives from the Crime Intelligence Directorate and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).

Authorities say they are linked to the break-in at the central bank headquarters, which investigators describe as a coordinated operation resulting in the theft of the laptops.

Rusoke, however, declined to explain how the suspects allegedly gained access to the heavily secured facility, noting that investigations are still ongoing.

Sources familiar with the probe indicated that at least five Counter Terrorism (CT) officers have been detained to assist investigators in determining whether there was any internal complicity in the breach.

The incident came to light on Monday, May 4, after the Bank of Uganda confirmed a security breach at its headquarters on Plot 45 Kampala Road, near City Square.

The bank said the intrusion is believed to have taken place overnight.

The case has raised serious concerns about security and internal controls at the central bank, with critics describing it as a significant lapse at one of the country’s most sensitive institutions.

Investigators are also considering the possibility that the suspects may have spent up to three hours inside the premises without detection, raising suspicions of possible insider assistance.

There are also questions over whether the theft was aimed at sensitive information stored on the stolen devices.

Following the incident, security agencies carried out raids on several arcades in downtown Kampala believed to be linked to stolen electronics.

The operation covered City House, Kalungi Plaza, and Mutaasa Kafeero along William Street.

About 20 individuals were arrested during the crackdown and are currently detained at Central Police Station as investigations continue.

The latest breach adds to previous controversies involving the central bank.

In September 2024, about $17 million (approximately Shs 60 billion) reportedly went missing from the Bank of Uganda and was later traced to accounts in the United Kingdom and Japan.

In that case, nine officials from the Bank of Uganda, the Ministry of Finance, and the Accountant General’s office were arrested and charged over allegations involving fraudulent payments to a purported contractor and the unauthorized release of funds.