Thieves target bank officer’s home and steal centenary bank keys in Kagadi

20 September 2024, 7:39 am

By James Muhumuza

Centenary Bank is one of Uganda’s leading commercial microfinance banks, serving 2.5 million customers with an asset base of UGX 5.5 trillion. It operates 80 branches, 205 ATMs, over 5,800 agents, and several digital channels.

In a brazen late-night raid in Kagadi town council, unidentified thieves broke into the home of Tom Luswata, a banking officer at Centenary Bank’s Kagadi branch, and stole three keys intended for the bank’s entrance doors.

The exact timing of the break-in remains unclear, but Luswata discovered the theft early on Thursday morning, along with the loss of his shoes and jacket. He promptly reported the incident to the bank manager, Johnson Galimaka, who then alerted the police.

Julius Hakiza, the spokesperson for the Albertine Region Police (Bunyoro), confirmed that officers responded quickly, investigating the bank to determine if the stolen keys had been used for unauthorised access. Fortunately, the bank’s facilities were found to be secure and undisturbed.

Hakiza speculated that the thieves may have specifically targeted Luswata, suggesting possible prior knowledge of his connection to the bank. The incident has disrupted bank operations, with management facing difficulties in opening the three secured doors for business. The police are continuing their search for the suspects and are urging the public to remain vigilant.