Finance heist: Twesigomwe joins group of 8 officials charged with stealing Shs53b
Nine officials from the Ministry of Finance, implicated in the Ministry of Finance heist through the Bank of Uganda, appear in the dock at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala on February 18, 2025. PHOTO/JULIET KIGONGO
What you need to know:
- Eight senior Ministry of Finance officials were early this month charged and remanded in connection with the alleged theft of Shs53 billion that was spirited away from the central bank.
The Assistant Commissioner of Accounts in Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Pedson Twesigomwe, was Tuesday afternoon charged with the theft of Shs53 billion from the Bank of Uganda and remanded to Luzira Prison.
Twesigomwe, 46, faces 11 charges, including five counts of corruption, two counts of causing financial loss, and one count each of abuse of office, electronic fraud, and money laundering. He appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, where Chief Magistrate Rachael Nakyazze formally charged him.
Twesigomwe is among nine individuals charged in connection with the heist, along with the Ministry of Finance Accountant General, Lawrence Ssemakula, 58, and several officials from Uganda’s Treasury Services and the IT department.
The other accused individuals, who had already been charged on February 6 include:
- Jennifer Muhuruzi, 55, acting director of Treasury Services and Asset Management
- Tonny Yawe, 46, senior IT officer
- Paul Nkalubo Lumala, 40, systems IT officer
- Deborah Dorothy Kusiima, 33, senior accountant in the Treasury Services Department
- Judith Ashaba, 43, accountant
- Bettina Nayebare, 31, research assistant
- Mark Kasiiku, 33, IT systems officer
Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, implicated in the Bank of Uganda heist, have been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala and charged with corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering involving Shs50 billion. Photo | Abubakar Lubowa
On Tuesday, Prosecutors told court that Twesigomwe had evaded police summons and went into hiding since February 6, prompting the issuance of criminal summons published in New Vision (newspaper) on February 13.
Prosecutor Richard Birivubuka told the court that Twesigomwe’s appearance was a result of the summons, not a voluntary submission.
Twesigomwe’s defense team, led by lawyers Ronald Oine and Robert Macky, denied the claims, arguing that their client had complied with the summons served to his lawyers. They also questioned why the state did not visit Twesigomwe’s known address.
Magistrate Nakyazze granted prosecution six months to complete its investigation but adjourned the case until March 4.
Background
Eight senior Ministry of Finance officials were early this month charged and remanded to Luzira prison in connection with the alleged theft of Shs53 billion that was spirited away from the central bank.
The hacking occurred last year and involved redirecting of some payments from its intended beneficiary to different recipients, according to the charges read in a magistrate's court in Kampala on February 6.
In November last year, State Minister for Finance Henry Musasizi confirmed Monitor reports that the central bank's accounts had been compromised, and money stolen
Some of the money was meant for the International Development Association (IDA), an arm of the World Bank, as principal and interest repayments for loans given to Uganda but was instead redirected to two companies in Japan and Poland, according to the charge sheet.
Some of the money was also illegally paid out from the central bank to a company in London, the charge sheet said.
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