BREAKING NEWS!! 7 UPDF Soldiers Arrested Over Shs480m Crypto Robbery, See How They Stole All That Money

Uganda is grappling with a shocking case of cybercrime and abduction that has drawn in both military personnel and a government employee. Authorities have arrested Alex Mwogeza, a staff member at the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), alongside seven Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers. The group is accused of orchestrating a Shs480 million (about $135,000) cryptocurrency robbery that included the abduction of Festo Ivaib, founder of Mitroplus Labs and creator of the Afro Token project.

Investigators allege that Mwogeza exploited his access to NIRA’s database to obtain Mr. Ivaib’s private details, including phone contacts and movement patterns. This information reportedly played a central role in planning the abduction. Mwogeza is said to have partnered with cryptocurrency broker Alex Batamuze, who then recruited the seven UPDF soldiers to execute the plan. All suspects are currently being held by the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly known as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

Blockchain records have been critical in exposing the crime. According to investigators, the suspects withdrew roughly $117,000 in cash and exchanged about $18,000 worth of Afro Tokens, bringing the total to $135,000. These transactions were traced across several major cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance, Bybit, and HotBit. So far, only Binance has cooperated by sharing Know Your Customer (KYC) details that helped link the stolen funds to specific accounts.

One of the suspects, Isaac Batamuze, admitted that the group targeted wallets lacking multi-signature authentication. He further revealed that additional funds were lost when devices containing wallets were destroyed—screens smashed and the remnants dumped into a pit latrine. Authorities are attempting to recover the hardware in hopes of retrieving the remaining assets.

The case has sparked widespread public anger, raising serious concerns about data security, military discipline, and the vulnerability of cryptocurrency investments in Uganda. Many Ugandans have taken to social media to demand tougher safeguards for personal data and stricter oversight of sensitive institutions like NIRA.

Cybersecurity experts warn that the incident exposes a broader risk: insiders exploiting privileged access for crime. They note that while cryptocurrency offers anonymity, the blockchain ledger leaves a permanent trail, making it possible to trace transactions even when criminals try to conceal them. This same transparency is now being used to build the case against the suspects.

Meanwhile, Mitroplus Labs has assured its investors and the Afro Token community that it is working closely with authorities. The company has pledged stronger security systems, including the promotion of multi-signature wallets, to shield investors against future breaches. Analysts suggest that the case could serve as a wake-up call for both the public and private sectors to tighten cybersecurity and enforce stricter controls on sensitive data.

Uganda’s crypto world is watching closely as the investigation unfolds. The scandal not only highlights the dark side of digital finance, but also shows how quickly trusted institutions can be undermined when insiders abuse their positions.