By Swift Reporter
Six Ugandan nationals accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cross-border electronic fraud scheme targeting Equity Bank Rwanda have been charged and remanded to prison as investigations continue into one of the region’s most significant cybercrime cases.
The suspects appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where proceedings were adjourned to allow the State to complete ongoing inquiries and verify bail documentation. They face charges of electronic fraud contrary to Section 18 (1) and (2) of Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act.
The accused are Solomon Mugisha alias Nelson, 33, a businessman; Enock Mpanga Kazige, 34, a farmer; Kateraga Benedicto, 35; Kiyimba Faruk, 30, a farmer; Oketch Gerard, 31, a supporting engineer at Medix Ltd and Uber driver; and Katamba Isma, a businessman. All are alleged to have played roles in a coordinated scheme that spanned both Uganda and Rwanda.
According to prosecution, led by Grace Amy, investigations are still ongoing and require additional time before the case can proceed. The State requested an adjournment to finalize inquiries, a request the court granted.
Defence lawyers indicated their intention to apply for bail on behalf of the accused. However, the prosecution asked to be formally served with the applications, particularly to allow verification of sureties. During the session, Kateraga Benedicto presented two sureties, his uncle David Kasaga and friend Ivan Sebuliba, in support of his bail request. The magistrate deferred ruling on the application, directing that all documentation be properly filed and verified.
The case was adjourned to April 13, with instructions that the remaining accused file their bail applications electronically through the court system.
Court documents indicate that the alleged offence occurred between February 14 and February 18, 2026, in both Kampala and Kigali. Investigators say the group, along with others still at large, used computer systems to manipulate banking infrastructure at Equity Bank Rwanda, fraudulently securing approximately 4.9 billion Rwandan francs, equivalent to about USD 3.4 million.
Authorities believe the operation was highly coordinated and executed within a short time frame, pointing to possible system-level intrusion and exploitation rather than conventional fraud methods. The involvement of suspects across multiple locations suggests a broader network that investigators are still working to uncover.
The case was registered by Uganda Police Force under CRB: 215/2026 and forms part of a wider investigation into a regional cybercrime operation. Earlier reports from Rwanda indicated that additional suspects had been arrested in connection with the same scheme.
Equity Bank Rwanda previously confirmed that it detected irregular transactions and acted swiftly to contain the incident, reversing most of the affected transactions within 24 hours. The bank has maintained that no customer funds were lost.
The incident highlights growing concerns over the rising sophistication of financial cybercrime in East Africa. Analysts note that as banking systems become increasingly digitized and interconnected with mobile money platforms and third-party services, vulnerabilities are also expanding.
The six accused remain in custody as investigations continue, with authorities expected to reveal further details about the methods used and the extent of the network behind the alleged fraud.
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