(Bloomberg) -- Hackers breached the Ugandan central bank’s systems and stole 62 billion shillings ($17 million) from its accounts, New Vision reported.
The attack on the Bank of Uganda was carried out by a group known as “Waste” based in Southeast Asia, the Kampala-based newspaper said on Thursday, citing people it didn’t identify. The bank recovered about 37 billion shillings of the amount taken, it said.
The police and the auditor general’s office are investigating the incident, it said. The bank didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Bloomberg.
The Daily Monitor newspaper reported separately that the total amount stolen was 47.8 billion shillings and the money was spirited away in September into two accounts in Japan and the UK. The fraud was an “inside job” and several employees at the central bank and the finance ministry have been questioned, the paper said. Bloomberg L.P.
South Sudan ambassador to the United States, Santino Fardol W. Dicken, shows off injuries after ‘violent’ attack on Monday, November 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy]
JUBA – South Sudan’s ambassador to the United States, Santino Fardol W. Dicken, has accused the deputy head of mission, Angong Dhol Acuil, of physically assaulting him in his office at the embassy in Washington.
The ambassador described the incident, which occurred on November 25, 2024, as a “violent attack” and has reported the matter to local police.
Graphic images circulating on social media show the ambassador with blood around his mouth, allegedly resulting from injuries sustained during the altercation.
In a letter addressed to the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation in Juba, Fardol detailed the assault and characterized it as both a personal attack and an affront to the authority of the South Sudanese state.
He accused Ambassador Angong, who is the daughter of South Sudan’s minister of general education and foreign affairs, Awut Deng Achuil, of escalating tensions at the embassy through a pattern of misconduct and insubordination.
“I was violently attacked today, 25th of November 2024, injured and insulted by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Angong Dhol Acuil, within my office,” Fardol wrote in his letter obtained by Sudans Post.
“This behaviour is unacceptable, mainly because it targeted me in my capacity as the Special Envoy of the President and Head of Mission,” he added.
The ambassador also alleged that the incident followed months of unresolved issues involving the deputy head of mission.
He questioned why his prior reports of Acuil’s alleged absenteeism and unauthorized actions had been ignored by the ministry, emphasizing that her behavior had severely undermined the embassy’s operations.
“How can a diplomat be absent for 70 days, resume duties without reporting to the Head of Mission, and write unauthorized letters to foreign governments without the Head of Mission knowing the content?” he asked in his letter.
The ambassador accused Acuil of a broader pattern of disruptive behavior, stating that she had previously been involved in physical altercations with other diplomats, including Ambassador Gordon Buay, who was the charge de affairs at the mission, and had a history of abusive interactions with embassy staff.
“This pattern of misconduct is not new. Amb. Angong has previously exhibited similar behavior, including a physical altercation with Ambassador Gordon Buay and abuse of other Heads of Mission, diplomats, and local employees,” he wrote.
Fardol further alleged that after the attack, Acuil threatened local embassy staff, creating an atmosphere of fear. He called on the ministry of foreign affairs to collect statements from witnesses, including his executive secretary, drivers, and other embassy personnel, who he said observed the altercation and have already provided accounts to the police.
The ambassador, citing fears for his safety, stated that he could no longer work with the deputy.
“As my life is in danger, I must reiterate my position: I cannot and will not work with an immoral, violent, abusive, and unethical lady like Amb. Angong,” he said.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions online, with graphic images of Ambassador Fardol showing blood around his mouth circulating across social media platforms.
Many users have expressed outrage, calling for immediate action by South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Fardol also raised concerns about the ministry’s failure to act on his previous reports, questioning why no measures were taken to address the issues he had repeatedly flagged since March 2024.
He described Acuil’s actions as a gross violation of diplomatic norms and a direct challenge to the authority of his office.
The ambassador’s accusations against Acuil come as a significant embarrassment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
Observers say the involvement of Acuil’s mother, Awut Deng Achuil, as the country’s Minister of General Education and Foreign Affairs, complicates the matter and places additional pressure on the ministry to ensure impartiality in handling the case.
“I trust you will consider this matter seriously before I can take legal action against Amb. Angong Dhol Acuil, if necessary,” Fardol warned in his letter to the ministry.
The incident has reignited debates about professionalism and accountability within South Sudan’s diplomatic missions.
Critics have called on the ministry of foreign affairs to address the internal issues plaguing its embassies and to ensure the safety and dignity of its envoys, but the ministry has not yet commented on the incident. By Sudan's Post
'The ceasefire must be upheld and enforced across all levels of command to ensure much-needed respite for civilians on both sides of the border,' says aid group
GENEVA
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Wednesday that the cease-fire deal between Israel and Lebanon is an "encouraging" step that would end the fighting and help bring some stability to a region exhausted by conflict.
"The ceasefire must be upheld and enforced across all levels of command to ensure much-needed respite for civilians on both sides of the border," ICRC said in a statement, adding that the deal must also facilitate the rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid for civilians.
It said ICRC is ready to scale up efforts to distribute essential items such as food and hygiene kits, and provide medical supplies and technical support to health care facilities to ensure they can meet the needs of returnees and help repair water and electricity infrastructure.
"Whilst the agreement brings a glimmer of hope, the region remains tense and the humanitarian situation in Gaza unacceptable," it said. "We reiterate our urgent call for the immediate respect of international humanitarian law (IHL); the protection of civilians and civilian objects; and an unhindered and increased flow of humanitarian assistance."
The cease-fire took effect early Wednesday, hours after US President Joe Biden said a proposal to end the conflict had been reached, amid hopes it would stop Israeli airstrikes against Lebanese towns and cities and end more than one year of cross-border fighting.
More than 3,800 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon and north of 1 million displaced since October 2023, according to Lebanese health authorities. Anadolu Agency
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested the Head of Human Resource and Administration at the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) over allegations of corruption involving a Sh40,539,760 tender for the provision of staff medical cover.
EACC Thursday confirmed that authorities apprehended Henry Mwasaru in an operation that also targeted two insurance brokers suspected of participating in the scam.
The arrest took place in Naivasha, where Mwasaru was attending a training session. He was subsequently escorted to the EACC Integrity Centre Offices in Nairobi.
Mwasaru is accused of colluding with Bevaline Lundu, the Head of Supply Chain Management at KMA, to fraudulently award the medical insurance tender to an agency in violation of procurement laws.
“The operation, conducted pursuant to court orders, yielded valuable evidentiary material that will support the ongoing investigation. Investigations commenced following a complaint received on September 30, 2024, alleging that KMA officials had corruptly and irregularly awarded the tender,” the EACC stated.
The Commission highlighted that it has increased scrutiny of staff medical insurance procurement processes in public institutions, as such tenders are often exploited for embezzlement through bid rigging and kickbacks.
“The outcome of the ongoing investigation will determine the next course of action, which may include prosecution and recovery of any public funds fraudulently paid out,” the EACC added. By Sharon Resian, Capital News
“We are now drilling.” Uganda’s energy minister recently confirmed at COP29 that the government was pressing ahead with the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The 1,443-kilometer pipeline will connect oilfields in western Uganda with the port of Tanga in eastern Tanzania. Among one of the world’s largest fossil fuel projects currently under development, EACOP poses significant risks to human rights and the environment.
Given the government’s unwavering support, the pipeline’s completion will now rely on whether it can secure the necessary funding.
Several banks, including major African banks, have already declined to support the project. The state-run Import-Export Bank of China (Exim Bank) remains undecided and is expected to make a key decision in December about its financial support for EACOP.
A Human Rights Watch report in 2023 found that land acquisition associated with the project has already devasted thousands of people’s livelihoods in Uganda. The inadequate and delayed compensation for land lost to the project has impacted many communities’ access to food, health, and education. It is estimated that developments in the oilfields will displace as many as 100,000 people across Uganda and Tanzania.
Human Rights Watch has also documented the Ugandan government’s routine harassment and arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders and activists who voice concerns about the pipeline. More than 80 have been arrested since May 2024 for protesting against EACOP.
The Climate Accountability Institute estimated the full lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of the project to be 379 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, more than the annual emissions of Australia.
Human Rights Watch wrote to Exim Bank in October and urged the bank not to support EACOP due to its human rights and environmental risks. Backing EACOP would also be at odds with the bank’s stated aims as outlined in its 2022 White Paper on Green Finance, which highlights cooperation with various international financial institutions in supporting environmental protection and renewable energy. Exim Bank has not responded to the letter.
In a year when global warming is expected to exceed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius set by the Paris Agreement, expanding new fossil fuel projects like EACOP would be disastrous. China Exim Bank, or any financial institution, should not support a project that poses grave and significant risks to both human rights and the environment. By Hellen Huang, Human Rights Watch
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