Uganda: Hackers Steal $17 Million from the Central Bank, Government Orders Probe | Firstpost Africa

Uganda: Hackers Steal $17 Million from the Central Bank, Government Orders Probe | Firstpost Africa

Uganda has confirmed that accounts in the East African country’s central bank had been hacked after reports claimed that millions of dollars were being stolen in the cybercrime. Kampala, however, downplayed the claims that the offshore hackers spirited away as much as $17 million. Last week, reports emerged that a hacker group named “Waste” had accessed the Bank of Uganda’s IT systems and transferred 62 billion Ugandan shillings. This prompted the government to order a probe. Reports also suggest that there is a possibility that the act could have been an “insider job.” Cyber thefts from banks and other financial service providers, including telecom firms, have occurred several times in Uganda. But as the probe is still underway, it raises several questions. Was it an insider job? How will Uganda recover the lost money? Watch the video to learn more.