Eight security personnel on trial over Bank of Uganda Break-in

Also on trial are Alex Onduri and Solomon Orache, guards employed by Ultimate Security Ltd, and Morish Ocen, a guard attached to Saracen Uganda Limited.

The prosecution led by Chief State Attorney Joan Keko alleges that on May 4, 2026, at the Bank of Uganda headquarters in Kampala Central Division, the accused and others still at large failed to use reasonable means to prevent office breaking and theft by unknown persons.

The accused deny the charge of neglect to prevent a felony contrary to Section 362 of the Penal Code Act.

Assistant Inspector of Police George Wamala, the first prosecution witness, told Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa that he was among the officers deployed to provide security at the central bank.

Mr Wamala, who is attached to the Counter Terrorism Directorate Tactical Department, said he had been deployed at Bank of Uganda since December 2024.

He told court that on May 4, he reported for duty at about 7am and shortly afterwards received information from his colleague, Henry Ziramba that a break-in had occurred at Plot 45, Level Three.

“I responded quickly and went to confirm,” Mr Wamala said.

He told court that he found the area cordoned off and, after being allowed inside, saw muddy brown footprints on the floor.

He also observed scattered laptop bags, gloves and a laptop in the corridor.

Mr Wamala said the bank’s director of security, Innocent Muhwezi, instructed him to report the matter to police.

“I reported a case of office breaking and theft,” he told court.

He subsequently returned to the bank with Kampala Metropolitan Police CID officers for further investigations and recorded a statement.

However, during cross-examination, Mr Wamala admitted that he did not know what had been stolen when he first arrived at the scene.

He also said he did not know the exact time the offices were broken into or who had been guarding the premises at the time.

The prosecution has presented laptops as part of its evidence. Seven laptops were brought to court and submitted for identification, with the prosecution asking a witness to identify the computers allegedly stolen during the break-in.

The second prosecution witness, Tracy Murungi Amupire, a Bank of Uganda banking officer in charge of licensing and regulation, told court how she discovered the break-in.

Ms Murungi said she arrived at Plot 45 at about 6:45am on May 4 and collected keys to offices 3A02 and 3A03 from the ground floor.

She had last been in the office on April 30, when she left at about 5pm.

Upon reaching the third floor, she noticed muddy footprints and pulled-out window louvres. She also found a grey laptop bag and a laptop in the corridor.

“I realised there were some changes. There were mud footprints,” she told court.

She said the cabins in her offices had been opened and her laptop, as well as that of her manager, was missing.

Ms Murungi said she later alerted an administrator, Agnes Namuyanja, who contacted security personnel.

Led by Ms Keko , Murungi  told court that employees use bank access cards to enter the building and confirmed that CCTV cameras cover the corridors.

When asked whether she had retrieved the CCTV footage, she said investigators had obtained it.

The prosecution alleges that the stolen laptops were later recovered from dealers in used electronic goods around Majestic Plaza, although the prosecution did not disclose the total value of property allegedly stolen.

The case has attracted attention because the alleged break-in occurred at one of Uganda’s most heavily guarded institutions.

Keko further asked the court to issue summons for additional witnesses.

Chief Magistrate Kidasa adjourned the hearing to September 1, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to continue presenting its evidence.