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Uganda detains govt officials for $16.8m cyber-crime

By , Intern portals journalist
Uganda , 06 Feb 2025
Uganda nabbed nine top officials this week following a cyber breach worth $16.8 million.
Uganda nabbed nine top officials this week following a cyber breach worth $16.8 million.

Following a cyber-attack on the Bank of Uganda, police this week arrested nine Ministry of Finance officials.

According to Reuters, the officials' detention is part of an ongoing investigation into the country's central bank hack, which occurred in November and resulted in the theft of $16.87 million (62 billion shillings).

Ugandan authorities said one of the detainees is a senior officer from the ministry's treasury department.

The cyber-attack was carried out by a group of Southeast Asian hackers known as Waste, who allegedly collaborated with bank insiders, according to local media.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, the ministry stated that the arrests will help to conclude the investigations.

“The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economical Development wishes to inform the general public, all other Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Local Governments, as well as the Development Partners that due to ongoing investigations relating to some operations at the treasury, some officers attached to the accountant general office were summoned and detained by the Criminal Investigation Department to facilitate conclusion of the investigations.”

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