URA lost over sh2b in computer hacking scam

By Edward Anyoli
 
Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has lost over sh2b in taxes in a fraudulent transactions involving hacking of the computer system.
 
State Attorney Mary Kamuli Kuteesa yesterday told court that preliminary investigations have revealed that the tax body incurred loss of sh2b in taxes.
 
Kamuli told magistrate Dorothy Lwanga Sempala that the loss incurred due to fraudulent transactions could be more than sh2b.
 
Guster Nsubuga, Farouk Ngobi, and Patrick Owora were arrested last week and charged with different offences at the Anti- Corruption Court.
 
Patrick Mukiibi, a commissioner at URA in charge of investigations said inquiries are still on going and that  more suspects  whose identity  he declined to reveal are being held at Uganda Revenue Authority offices  in connection with the offence of computer  hacking  and will soon be taken to court.
 
The suspects are accused of illegally clearing over 200 vehicles worth billions of shillings without the knowledge of Uganda Revenue Authority.
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They were charged with  un- authorised  use  and interception of computer services,  Electronic fraud, un- authorised access to data , producing  , selling  designing and  being in possession  of devices, computer programme designed  to overcome security measures.
 
Prosecution led Mary Kamuli Kuteesa said the accused hacked into computers databases and servers and updated data on URA motorcycles registration and over 200 vehicles were cleared fraudulently.

Magistrate Lwanga committed the three accused to High Court to face trial as investigations continue. The trial date will be set by the High Court. Under section 168 of the Magistrate Court Act, an accused person can be sent to High Court to be tried by the judge.

The accused were advised to apply for bail in High Court after they were remanded to Luzira prison.

Prosecutor Kamuli  said Nsubuga , Mugere and , Owora  and others still at large  between 2010-2012, in Kampala District without authority accessed URA computerised systems, databases and servers and released goods that had not paid customs taxes thereby causing financial loss of  2,164,833,894 to the Government of Uganda.