The police have arrested two people, including a teenager, in connection with the recent break-in at the Bank of Uganda headquarters in Kampala and the theft of seven high-end laptops.
19-year-old Boaz Kule, a resident of Wabigalo and his alleged accomplice, Ramadhan Kabuye, also known as Rhama, a resident of Nsambya Zone C in Makindye Division, according to police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke.
The duo was arrested by operatives from the Crime Intelligence Directorate and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID). Police say the suspects are linked to the burglary at the central bank headquarters, where the laptops were stolen in what investigators describe as a coordinated operation.
Rusoke declined to disclose how the suspects allegedly gained access to one of the country’s most heavily guarded institutions, saying investigations are still ongoing.
However, sources close to the inquiry indicated that at least five Counter Terrorism (CT) police officers have been detained to help investigators establish whether there was any internal involvement in the incident.
The break-in was first reported 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 was believed to have occurred overnight.
The incident sparked widespread concern over security and internal controls at the central bank, with critics describing the breach as a major lapse at one of Uganda’s most secure installations.
Investigators believe the suspects may have spent close to three hours inside the premises without detection, fuelling speculation that the operation could have involved insider assistance.
Some observers have also questioned whether the theft specifically targeted sensitive information contained on the stolen devices.
In the aftermath of the incident, security agencies sealed off several arcades in downtown Kampala in search of shops suspected of dealing in stolen phones and laptops. The operation targeted City House, Kalungi Plaza, and Mutaasa Kafeero on William Street.
At least 20 people were arrested during the crackdown and detained at Central Police Station as investigations continued.
The latest incident adds to previous controversies surrounding financial and security breaches at the central bank. In September 2024, approximately $17 million (about Shs 60 billion) reportedly disappeared from the Bank of Uganda and was later traced to foreign accounts in the United Kingdom and Japan.
Following that case, at least nine officials from the Bank of Uganda, the ministry of Finance, and the Accountant General’s office were arrested and charged over allegations of orchestrating fraudulent payments to a purported contractor and directing the central bank to release the funds.
If there is no jiffy (that easy) in as far as “Teenage Italian Job” was concerned in the Central Bank, what about other Banks?
That’s what happens under a regime of criminals, by criminals and for criminals! E.g., they sponsored their criminal subversion and came to power, by robbing the Kabale Central Bank Currency Centre, as well as the Masindi UCB Branch.
In other words, what was and still is the contents of the Laptop heist for?
the people known for breaking in banks are clearly known.
who can believe that narrative that the central bank was broken in at night, yet even during day time np one can stand near the heavy, and heavily guarded gates, guarded by the so called SFC. and for sure these people should tell the truth, they did not just steal just laptops, they stole money , Tebatulimba!!! ababbi be bafuzi
Let me try to get this story around my fingers: these thievies breached the most guarded building´s security, stole 7 laptops, and then decide to stay around in Kampala!!! Guys….thievies may be stupid but not this stupid. There is more to this story than meets the eye. And how were those 7 laptops lifted? Were all of them in one place, or the thievies ha dto move from one LOCKED office to another?? Rusoke…c´mon!