The Anti-Corruption Court has granted bail to six out of nine government officials implicated in a UGX 60 billion fraud case linked to manipulated payment systems.
Justice Lawrence Gidudu, who presided over the case, approved the bail on Monday, setting amounts between UGX 20 million and UGX 30 million, depending on the severity of their alleged involvement. Their sureties were required to sign non-cash bonds of UGX 200 million to UGX 300 million. Additionally, the accused were instructed to surrender their passports and land titles while being prohibited from accessing their offices. They must also report to the court registrar starting April 3, 2025.
The six individuals released on bail include:Lawrence Ssemakula – Accountant General, Ministry of Finance, – Acting Director of Treasury Services and Asset Management,Paul Nkalubo Lumala – IT Systems Officer ,Deborah Dorothy Kusiima – Senior Accountant, Treasury Services,Judith Ashaba – Accountant and Bettina Nayebare – Research Assistant
Two individuals, Mark Kasiiku (IT Systems Officer) and Tonny Yawe (Senior IT Officer), were denied bail and remain in custody. According to Justice Gidudu, Kasiiku allegedly concealed a fraudulent $6.1 million payment to a company in Japan. Meanwhile, Yawe is accused of tampering with payment files in the Electronic Funds Management Information System (EFMIS), diverting funds meant for the International Development Association in Washington to a Polish company under false pretenses.
The judge advised both to reapply for bail if they can provide sufficient security.
A ninth suspect, Pedison Twesigomwe (Assistant Commissioner for Accounts, Ministry of Finance), was charged two weeks earlier and did not apply for bail. He remains on remand alongside Kasiiku and Yawe.
Prosecutors allege that Ssemakula and Muhuruzi failed to implement security measures to protect public funds, leading to a loss of $652,588.2. Investigations suggest that fraudulent transactions took place in September 2024, with the stolen funds transferred to foreign accounts in the UK, Japan, and other Asian countries.
The initial theory of an external hacker was dismissed by the ICT division of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID). Instead, authorities determined that the fraud stemmed from an internal payment scheme. The probe, conducted by CID in collaboration with Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly known as Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), led to the interrogation of at least 21 officials from the Bank of Uganda, Ministry of Finance, and Accountant General’s Office.
By late 2024, President Yoweri Museveni had directed DIS to intensify investigations. Several electronic devices, including mobile phones and laptops belonging to the suspects, were confiscated for forensic analysis.
The accused face 11 charges, including corruption, causing financial loss, electronic fraud, and money laundering. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to trace the missing funds.