By Aggrey Baba
[Arat that eats poison thinks it is a feast, until it is too late]. And now a well-orchestrated financial heist has unraveled, revealing how billions of shillings meant for Uganda’s development were siphoned off in a fraudulent scheme.
Investigators are now closing in on a key suspect, a Japanese national named Manabu, as well as officials from the Bank of Uganda and the Ministry of Finance, who allegedly facilitated the theft.
The fraud first came to light last year when a detailed forensic report by the Auditor General uncovered a shocking $6.5 million (about Sh23.9 billion), prompting ministry of Finance later, to reveal that it was actually Ugx 60 billion, that was illegally diverted from Uganda’s public accounts.
The money, which was intended for international payments, was instead funneled into private accounts. It was discovered that some of it was transferred to companies that did not exist, and officials at the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Uganda allegedly manipulated the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) to make the fraudulent transactions go unnoticed.
Authorities have discovered that Manabu quietly entered Uganda on October 16, 2024, through Entebbe International Airport, using passport number TT6830023. He left just two days later, raising questions about his purpose and the people he met during his stay.
Investigators suspect he withdrew part of the stolen money before fleeing. Efforts are now underway to track him down, with Uganda reaching out to Japanese authorities for assistance.
On September 10, 2024, $6.1 million (Sh22.5 billion) meant for the World Bank was fraudulently sent to a company called Roadway Ltd. Two weeks later, on September 26, another $5.9 million (Sh21.7 billion) intended for the African Development Fund was wrongly transferred to MJS International in London. The funds, originally meant to clear government loans, were funneled into private accounts, including one linked to Manabu.
Investigators believe that the fraud could not have taken place without the involvement of insiders at the Bank of Uganda. One senior BOU official is suspected of altering payment instructions to divert money to fake companies.
Authorities are now questioning why such large sums were moved without proper checks and whether some officials received bribes to facilitate the scheme.
The internal security system at BoU is also under scrutiny, as investigators seek to establish whether this was an isolated incident or part of a wider network of financial misconduct.
Nine government officials have already been arrested and charged in court, including Jennifer Muhuruzi, Commissioner for Treasury Services, Tony Yawe, a senior IT officer, Paul Nkalubo, a finance officer, and Deborah Kusima, a senior accountant.
Others include Judith Ashaba, Bettina Nayebare, Mark Kasiku, and interdicted ministry officials Semakula and Lumala. They face multiple charges, including corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering.
If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison or fines of up to Sh2 billion.
The hunt for Manabu continues, with the CID intensifying efforts to track down other possible accomplices. Security agencies are now analyzing financial transactions linked to the stolen money, hoping to recover the lost billions.
CID Director AIGP Tom Magambo Rwabudongo has assured the public that justice will be served, [A thief may run, but he cannot hide forever]
As the scandal unfolds, many Ugandans are left wondering, How deep does this corruption run? And will the stolen billions ever be returned? (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
