“When they complained that someone had interfered with their ATMs especially the one at Mini Price, we began investigations to establish who was behind the fraud, ” Owoyesigire told URN.
Police initially retrieved CCTV camera footage around Mini Price which they used to single out Etumu. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects had set the ATMs in a way that they could easily retrieve details from various accounts.
Among the accounts which were hacked and money transferred account number 302007**** belonging to Prossy Nabukenya from which Shs 510,000 was transferred, 32007**** belonging to Proscovia Nalwayeso from which Shs 2 million was transferred and 320156**** belonging to Eva Mukasini from which Shs 650,000 was transferred among many others.
Detectives together with Centenary bank officials are still in the process of compiling all complaints falling under the same racket of fraudsters as well as tracing where exactly the money was transferred to.
Personnel from the police Cyber Crime Unit have also been deployed to help handle the case. Attempts to get a comment from Centenary bank were futile as none of their officials was willing to comment on the case.
The two suspects are also being tentatively charged with impersonation following recovery of two warrant cards of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) believed to have been forged. The cards identify Etumu and Ajuna as soldiers at the rank of Captain. The warrant cards have been sent to the UPDF headquarters for verification.