Four people have been charged at the Anti Corruption Court in Kampala, after they allegedly hacked into the Uganda Revenue Authority—URA computer system.
The suspects, including three clearing agents, allegedly tampered with the URA databases and servers thereby inserting goods that had not paid customs duties, which caused loss of revenue to government.
The quartet includes Gaster Nsubuga and Patrick Owora who work with Cargo Supplies Limited, and Farook Mugere, an employee of Shafa Clearing and Forwarding Limited. They are jointly charged with a computer specialist, Richard Kibalama.
They face six counts including unauthorized use and interception of computer services, electronic fraud, unauthorized access to URA data, and producing or selling devices or computer programmes designed to overcome security measures for data protection. They also face unauthorized access to customs computerized system contrary to section 191 of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004.
Kibalama also faces a separate charge of destroying evidence. On June 21, at URA tax investigation department in Naksero, Kampala, he reportedly interfered with and obstructed the lawful use of a computer by forcefully breaking a computer hard disk. The disk was picked from him by police for purposes of investigations.
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions, represented by Mary Kutesa, told court that the offences were allegedly committed between 2010 and 2012 in Kampala district.
Appearing before Grade One Magistrate Dorothy Lwanga on Friday, the four denied the charges and were remanded to Luzira Prisons till June 25, when they will re-appear in court.
