The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded four suspects in connection with the theft of laptops from the Bank of Uganda, in a case that is increasingly raising concerns over possible insider involvement.
The suspects, identified as Kule Boaz Micheal, Kabuya Ramathan alias Rama, Lubangakene Isaac Izoo, and Oedo Jorem Jude, appeared before court and were charged with breaking and entering, theft, receiving stolen property, and retaining stolen property. They were remanded to Luzira Prison until May 29, 2026.
The charges stem from a break-in that occurred in the early hours of May 3, 2026, at the central bank’s commercial offices along Kampala Road in Kampala. During the incident, at least seven laptop computers valued at Shs35.4 million were stolen.
Investigators say the operation was far from ordinary. Preliminary findings suggest the suspects may have exploited internal security gaps to gain access to the premises, raising red flags about potential collaboration from within.
According to sources close to the investigation, the group is believed to have entered through a gate near City Square and remained inside the building for nearly three hours. During that time, they reportedly moved through several restricted sections of the facility with unusual ease before making off with the devices.
Authorities now suspect the intruders may have used duplicated keys, as there were no clear signs of forced entry. This has intensified scrutiny on staff and contracted security personnel who may have had knowledge of or access to the facility’s security systems.
In a further sign of planning and coordination, the suspects are said to have tampered with critical infrastructure during the operation. Internet connectivity within the building was reportedly disabled, while parts of the surveillance system were interfered with, limiting real-time monitoring.
Investigators have also pointed to the theft of key security equipment, including a CCTV server and an internet router valued at approximately Shs50 million. The targeting of such systems has reinforced suspicions that the perpetrators had prior knowledge of the bank’s security layout.
Despite the breach, attempts to access cash reserves were unsuccessful. However, officials say the level of sophistication displayed in the break-in has exposed serious vulnerabilities within one of the country’s most sensitive financial institutions.
Analysis of recovered CCTV footage has reportedly captured about five individuals moving through restricted areas during the incident. Although sections of the surveillance system were vandalised, some footage was retrieved and is now central to the ongoing investigation.
The case has since sparked wider concern within security circles, with investigators racing to determine whether the suspects acted alone or as part of a larger network.
