A security breach has been reported at the Bank of Uganda offices in Kampala, where unknown individuals broke in and escaped with several laptops, according to a report by Daily Monitor.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects may have collaborated with insiders, including members of staff and the security team. The incident is said to have occurred on Monday morning, raising concerns about internal vulnerabilities at one of the country’s most heavily guarded institutions.
Investigators say the group gained entry through a gate opposite City Square before proceeding to the commercial offices. They reportedly spent close to three hours inside the premises before leaving with seven laptops and other equipment.
Police believe the attackers used duplicated keys, allowing them to access restricted areas without forcing entry. Authorities also revealed that the internet connection within the building was deliberately cut off, a move that likely enabled the suspects to operate without immediate detection.
Sources cited by Daily Monitor further claim that the group made away with security-related equipment, including a CCTV server and an internet router estimated to be worth about Shs50 million. Despite the breach, the suspects were unable to access the central bank’s cash safe.
During the operation, the suspects allegedly damaged CCTV cameras and several office doors while searching for keys to the strong room. Security footage reviewed by investigators shows about five individuals entering through reinforced access points.
A response team from Central Police Station Kampala, supported by sniffer dogs, later visited the scene. The dogs reportedly tracked a scent leading to Mutaasa Kafeero Plaza in downtown Kampala, prompting a security operation in which several nearby buildings were temporarily sealed off.
Racheal Kawala, spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, confirmed that the follow-up operation was intelligence-led. She disclosed that more than 20 suspects had been arrested and that some items had been recovered to aid ongoing investigations. However, she did not confirm whether those arrested were directly linked to the break-in at the central bank.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over institutional security, particularly the risk of insider involvement in high-level breaches. Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and more details are expected as forensic analysis and interrogations continue.
