At least 19.2 billion shillings were stolen from Ugandans via cyber according to the 2022 annual crime police report. The Criminal Investigations Directorate -CID’s director, Maj Tom Magambo, in the report released today afternoon said 19.2 billion shillings were stolen in the 286 cyber-crimes cases recorded in the whole year.
“Cybercrimes led to a loss of Ugx. 19,209,798,000 in 2022, out of which Ugx. 16,790,000 was recovered,” Magambo said.
Magambo said 286 cases of cybercrimes recorded in 20222 reflect a 10.8 percent increase compared to 258 cases reported in 2021. “By the end of the year, 45 cases were taken to Court, nine cases were not proceeded with while 232 cases are still under inquiry,” Maj Magambo said.
CID further explains that out of the total cases taken to Court, only five secured convictions, while only one case was dismissed. Magambo also notes that 39 cases were still pending in Court.
Cybercrime involves hacking clients’ bank accounts and transferring money and it also includes interception and diversion of mobile money exchanges. The hackers have always targeted banks and telecom companies like MTN and Airtel which are the country’s giants.