The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded a 29-year-old Rwandan national to Luzira Prison over allegations that she stole Shs77.245 million from Uganda Central Cooperative Financial Services (UCCFS) and five of its members. Hawa Mbabazi appeared before Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko and denied five counts of theft, contrary to Sections 237(1) and 244 of the Penal Code Act.
Court records indicate that Mbabazi worked as a banking officer and cashier at the SACCO’s branch on Nkrumah Road in Kampala, where she allegedly committed the offences between January and July 2026 at Crown House in Kampala Central Division. According to the prosecution, Mbabazi allegedly stole Shs18 million belonging to John Ssenfuma, Shs980,000 belonging to Jonathan Turyamureeba, Shs700,000 belonging to Annet Natono, and Shs550,000 belonging to Sarah Atwine.
In the fifth count, she is accused of stealing Shs57.015 million belonging to UCCFS Community Cooperative Savings, bringing the total amount allegedly stolen to Shs77.245 million. The allegations reportedly emerged following an internal discovery at the SACCO, after Mbabazi allegedly confessed to withdrawing money from members’ accounts without their consent and receiving cash deposits without crediting the respective accounts.
In a statement attributed to UCCFS General Manager Brian Twesigye, Mbabazi had worked as a banking officer and cashier since April 2018. Her responsibilities included receiving deposits from SACCO members and paying out money to customers who held savings accounts with the institution.
Twesigye said the SACCO had procedures for reconciling cash against daily transactions. He added that the Nkrumah Road branch manager, Shaina Nayebale, was responsible for supervising Mbabazi and balancing her transactions daily, and that no cash shortages had previously been reported.
According to Twesigye, the matter came to light on April 28, 2026, at about 10:26 a.m., when Mbabazi allegedly approached the SACCO’s treasurer, Jennifer Kyompire, and confessed to withdrawing money from members’ accounts without their consent and receiving cash without depositing it.
Twesigye told the court that Mbabazi initially disclosed an amount of Shs46.345 million. The treasurer subsequently informed the general manager, who said the management team asked Mbabazi to put her confession in writing for accountability purposes. She reportedly complied and listed the names of the affected members alongside the amounts allegedly withdrawn from their accounts.
Twesigye said management subsequently reviewed the accounts of the members named in the statement, together with Mbabazi, and confirmed discrepancies amounting to Shs46.345 million. When asked what had happened to the money, Mbabazi allegedly claimed that she had used it to cover shortages she had created while balancing her transactions. Twesigye said the SACCO management decided to report the matter to the police after reviewing the affected accounts.
Mbabazi denied all five charges. Through her lawyer, she asked the court for a short adjournment to allow the defence to prepare a bail application. However, in the absence of a state representative, the magistrate remanded her until November 12. Mbabazi remains on remand as the case awaits further proceedings-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
