By Spy Uganda
Centenary Bank is facing public scrutiny after paying Shs12 million to settle a case where two staff members were accused of stealing money from a client’s account.
The case involved Mapeera House branch manager, Barnabas Ssekasi (40), and teller, Sylvia Namuwawu (37), who were charged with theft of Shs10.3 million belonging to Maldes Advocates on June 10, 2025.
Both employees denied the charges, but the case raised questions about how money could be taken from a client’s account without being detected by the bank’s systems.
On Thursday, state attorney Allan Muchuguzi told Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court that the complainants and Centenary Bank had signed an agreement. The bank refunded the stolen money and paid extra compensation, bringing the total to Shs12 million.
Following this development, Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi withdrew the case and freed the accused employees.
Although the case was closed, questions remain about how the theft happened. Banking experts note that every transaction in a bank should have a clear record and be checked by supervisors. If money was taken without being noticed, it could mean weak internal controls.
Consumer rights advocates argue that such incidents damage public trust. “If money can leave an account without the customer’s knowledge, anyone’s savings could be at risk,” one analyst said.
Centenary Bank has not issued a detailed public statement on what happened or what measures it has taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Some observers are calling for the Bank of Uganda to investigate and ensure that customer accounts in all banks are protected. The case may be over in court, but for many customers, the bigger concern is whether their money is safe.
