By Spy Uganda
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), successfully arraigned Ngabirano Gerald before the Kabale Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of forgery, uttering false documents, and conspiracy to commit fraud. Ngabirano has been remanded to Ndorwa Prison in Kabale and will return to court on March 4, 2025.
The fraud attempt, which was uncovered in January 2025, involved the use of forged garnishee orders obtained from His Worship Tumwebaze Kenneth, the Deputy Registrar of the High Court in Kabale. These fake court orders falsely instructed DFCU Bank to release over UGX 689,750,300 from the account of Karekezi Stephen, claiming it was to settle a non-existent debt owed to Ngabirano.
This fraudulent scheme is part of a growing trend of cyber fraud in the banking sector, where criminals are increasingly using digital means to forge documents, manipulate systems, and exploit vulnerabilities in both legal and financial institutions. Cyber fraud has become a major threat to banks and their customers, with criminals often employing sophisticated techniques to deceive employees and circumvent security protocols. This includes using fake emails, forged court documents, and other digital manipulations to carry out their plans.
Fortunately, SH-ACU’s quick response, supported by a whistleblower tip-off, prevented the fraudulent transaction from taking place. The team instructed DFCU Bank to freeze the account, thus averting potential financial loss.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of cyber fraud in the banking sector and underscores the need for vigilance, robust security measures, and swift action to protect individuals and financial institutions from such schemes.
