Bank of Uganda tightens controls after security breach

What the report says

Bank of Uganda has tightened internal controls after security breaches, Governor Michael Atingi-Ego told Parliament on Monday, 7 September 2026, according to Watchdog Uganda. He was appearing with other central bank officials before the Public Accounts Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), where lawmakers questioned how the bank was protecting its systems and restoring confidence after reports of missing laptops and alleged system intrusions.

Atingi-Ego said the central bank reviewed its safeguards and fixed weaknesses it identified. He also pushed back on one of the breach descriptions, saying the issue involved fraudulent payments rather than hacking. While he confirmed that controls had been improved, he refused to explain the specific measures in public, arguing that disclosing them could create new risks. He said further details could be shared privately with the committee.

The hearing also covered BoU’s audit findings for the financial year ended 30 June 2025. Atingi-Ego said the Auditor-General issued an unmodified audit opinion, and he noted that the two main audit matters did not change that outcome. Lawmakers separately raised wider consumer-protection concerns, including loan terms, recovery charges and access to complaints channels.

Watchdog Uganda reported that COSASE members pressed the bank to do more to protect borrowers and regulate financial institutions, while BoU officials pointed to existing consumer-protection guidelines requiring lenders to provide clearer loan information.