Six Remanded Over Multi-Billion Shilling Cross-Border Bank Fraud
Six Ugandan nationals have been charged and remanded to prison over their alleged involvement in a sophisticated cross-border electronic fraud scheme totalling approximately Rwf 4.9 billion (UGX 12.65 billion). The accused appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala on Monday, facing allegations that they manipulated the banking systems of Equity Bank Kigali to illicitly transfer funds between Rwanda and Uganda.
Background and Context
The prosecution alleges that the fraud was executed over a four-day period in February 2026, specifically between February 14 and February 18. According to the charge sheet, the suspects targeted the infrastructure of Equity Bank in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, and Uganda's capital, Kampala. The case highlights the growing vulnerability of regional banking networks to cyber-enabled financial crime, with investigators stating that the group used deception via computer networks to secure unlawful financial advantages.
Key Figures and Entities
The six individuals remanded include businessman Solomon Mugisha, also known as Nelson; farmers Enock Mpanga Kazige and Faruk Kiyimba; Benedicto Kateraga; Gerard Oketch, a supporting engineer at Medix Ltd; and Katamba Isma, an Uber driver residing in Kitezi. The prosecution, led by State Attorney Grace Amy, informed Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa that inquiries into the matter are ongoing, necessitating further time to verify bail documents for the accused persons.
Legal and Financial Mechanisms
The suspects have been charged with electronic fraud contrary to Section 18 (1) and (2) of the Computer Misuse Act. Court documents detail how the group allegedly used computer systems to bypass banking controls, manipulating the system to facilitate the transfer of the substantial sum. During the hearing, the legal process involved the verification of sureties for bail applications, with the court directing that the remaining accused parties file their documentation via the Judiciary's Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).
International Implications and Policy Response
This incident underscores the regulatory challenges inherent in monitoring cross-border financial transactions within the East African community. The ability to manipulate banking systems across jurisdictions—specifically between Rwanda and Uganda—points to potential gaps in real-time fraud detection and information sharing between financial regulators. The use of digital court systems for filing bail applications also reflects the ongoing digitisation of the legal response to financial crimes in the region.
Sources
This report is based on charge sheets and proceedings from the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on March 23, 2026, and the Uganda Judiciary public records regarding the case.
