The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, has warned that financial and cyber fraud is outpacing the justice system’s response, calling for faster investigation, prosecution and adjudication of increasingly sophisticated financial crimes.
Justice Kazibwe observed that while fraud can be committed within seconds, investigations may take months and litigation years, creating a gap that must be addressed through stronger technical capacity and a more coordinated response across the justice and financial sectors.
He made the remarks earlier today while representing the Chief Justice at the 4th Financial Sector Anti-Fraud Forum at the Marriott Hotel in Kampala.
The Forum was convened by the Uganda Bankers’ Association (UBA), Payment Systems Providers Association (PSPA) and Anti-Fraud Consortium (AFC) under the theme, “Safeguarding the Citizen: Beyond Infrastructure, Into Enforcement.”
“Fraud, to me, is an industry. Very fast-growing, with the modus operandi changing every time. So as a single bank, as a single organisation, you can’t fight fraud alone,” Justice Kazibwe said.
He noted that responsibility for delays in the justice chain cannot be attributed to one institution, since challenges may arise during investigations, evidence gathering, prosecution, case preparation, judicial case management and enforcement of court orders.
He proposed regular technical engagements bringing together Judges, prosecutors, investigators, financial intelligence experts, regulators, banks, payment providers and telecommunications specialists to address emerging challenges.
Strengthening Judicial Capacity
Justice Kazibwe said the increasing use of digital financial services requires Judicial Officers, prosecutors and investigators to better understand the technologies and systems underpinning financial transactions.
He highlighted the role of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) in strengthening judicial capacity and proposed specialised training in financial crime, cyber fraud, digital evidence, electronic payments, cryptocurrency and financial technology, drawing on expertise from relevant financial, regulatory and technical institutions.
“We need to learn to serve you better…You may have the money. Let’s partner to train. Approach us, teach us, and collaborate to serve you better,” he said.
Justice Kazibwe noted that evidence in financial and cybercrime cases is increasingly digital, dispersed and capable of being altered or lost quickly. He stressed the importance of effective preservation and production of digital evidence, transaction trails and audit logs, authentication of electronic records, chain of custody, and handling of cross-platform and cross-border transactions.
He said an effective anti-fraud system must go beyond arrests and convictions to include early detection, professional investigations, efficient adjudication, recovery of stolen funds, restitution to victims and prevention of future vulnerabilities.
“The success of an anti-fraud system should not be measured only by arrests and convictions, but also by the recovery of victims’ funds, tracing of unlawful gains, correction of systemic weaknesses and prevention of future vulnerabilities,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Justice further called for adequate compensation for victims and consideration of stronger custodial sentences for offenders, given the wider impact of cybercrime on innocent depositors.
Judiciary Reforms
Justice Kazibwe said the Judiciary is undertaking reforms under its Sixth Judiciary Strategic Plan for FY2025/26–2029/30, focusing on access to justice, case management, institutional effectiveness and digital transformation.
He highlighted the expansion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation, plea bargaining and the Small Claims Procedure, alongside the rollout of the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) to facilitate electronic filing, payments and case tracking.
Justice Kazibwe also pointed to ongoing efforts to strengthen the Judiciary’s ICT architecture, including data governance, cybersecurity and digital resilience.
The Deputy Chief Justice stressed that the ultimate focus of anti-fraud interventions must remain the citizen, including individuals who lose money through compromised mobile-money accounts and businesses whose capital is diverted through fraud.
“Justice is a chain, and a weak link undermines citizens’ trust,” he said.
Financial Sector Reports Shs24 Billion in Losses
Speaking at the Forum, Mr Michael Mugabi, Chairperson of UBA and Chief Executive Officer of Housing Finance Bank Uganda, said the financial sector recorded 6,533 reported cyber and fraud-risk cases between January and August 2026, resulting in losses of about Shs24 billion.
He identified peer-to-peer fraud, compromised digital channels, internal control and process abuses, investment schemes and gaps in customer awareness and security consciousness among the major areas of concern.
Mr Mugabi said fraud threatens not only financial institutions but also public confidence, investment and the broader expansion of financial inclusion.
Citing a recent mediation initiative at the Commercial Division, he said 217 of 527 banking-related cases were resolved through mediation, unlocking about Shs90 billion that had been tied up in disputes.
“If we can unlock 90 billion shillings in idle capital through partnership and mediation, I ask each one of you here today: what more could we unlock if we brought that same spirit to the fight against fraud?” he said.
Mr Mugabi called for stronger mechanisms for asset tracing and recovery, specialised investigative and prosecutorial capacity, proportionate sanctions and specialised judicial handling of complex cyber and financial crime cases.
Information-Sharing Critical
The Chairperson of the Anti-Fraud Consortium, Mr Tumubweine Twinemanzi, said the Consortium was established to address gaps in information-sharing among institutions affected by fraud.
He said its reporting portal now receives an average of 600 incidents every month, enabling institutions to share intelligence on fraud patterns and reduce opportunities for perpetrators to repeat similar schemes across different institutions.
Mr Twinemanzi said the next phase should bring citizens more directly into the anti-fraud system, including enabling members of the public to report incidents through the platform.
The Forum highlighted the need to translate anti-fraud discussions into faster detection and investigation, effective prosecution and adjudication, recovery of stolen funds and stronger protection of citizens from emerging financial crimes.
Posted 23rd, September 2026
