Twelve suspects have been arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa over the alleged break-in at the Bank of Uganda offices in Kampala on May 3rd, 2026.

The suspects include five police officers attached to the Counter Terrorism Tactical Unit — Sergeant Joseph Amone, Police Constables Wilson Ouma, Thomas Omach, Shafic Mungusho and Brian Oryono — who are charged with neglecting to prevent a felony.

Three private security guards — Alex Onduri and Solomon Orach of Ultimate Security Limited, and Morish Ocen of Saracen Uganda Limited — are also accused of failing to prevent the alleged breach of the bank premises.

The remaining four suspects are civilians: Michael Boaz Kule, a casual worker; Ramathan Kabuya alias Rama, a bus conductor; Isaac Rubangakene alias Izoo, a mobile phone accessories dealer; and Jorem Jude Oedo, a computer technician. They face charges related to breaking into the premises and receiving stolen property.

The prosecution has so far presented two witnesses, including Counter Terrorism police officer George Wamala, who was deployed at the Bank of Uganda, and banking officer Tracy Mulungi Ampeirwe.

Wamala told court that upon arriving at the scene, he found a phone, two security officials and several signs of a break-in, including footprints, scattered laptop bags and broken window panes.

He said he was instructed by the Bank of Uganda Director of Security, Innocent Muhwezi, to report the incident at the police station, where a case of office breaking and theft was opened.

The second witness, Ampeirwe, told court that she arrived at the bank at about 6:45 a.m. and found footprints, broken window panes and laptop bags scattered around the premises.

She testified that her laptop and that of a colleague were missing from their office.

Ampeirwe also identified six laptops presented in court as property of the Bank of Uganda — four Lenovo ThinkPads and two HP laptops.

However, the defence objected to their admission, arguing that the witness could only positively identify her own laptop.

The witness further told court that staff access the building using identification cards, but said she could not establish the total number of laptops allegedly stolen.

Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has adjourned the case to September 1st, 2026, for further hearing.

By Edith Namwanje