United Bank for Africa/Courtesy photoThe High Court in Mbale has ordered United Bank for Africa (UBA) Uganda to refund UGX 108.2 million to a former security guard after finding the bank negligent in opening and operating a fraudulent account in his name.In his judgment for Civil Suit No. 006 of 2024 delivered on September 7, 2026, Justice Lubega Farouq ruled that UBA failed to exercise due care and good faith when it opened Account No. 0768025176 and allowed the entire sum deposited in it to be withdrawn within a day.The plaintiff, Mazuno Micheal Wilson, told court he was employed on January 8, 2019, as an armed security guard with Trip Canopy Global Operations Inc., a US private security firm operating in Afghanistan. He said he fell from a guard tower in 2020 and suffered spinal injuries, hearing impairment and psychological trauma that left him unable to work.Wilson said he pursued compensation through his US lawyers, Barnett Lerner, Kansen Frankel & Castro, before the U.S. Department of Labour Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. His lawyers later informed him that his claim had been settled for USD 30,000 and the money remitted to his bank account.Upon following up, Wilson discovered that on April 22, 2023, UBA staff had allegedly connived with an impostor to open an account in his name using his National Identity Card number but bearing a photograph of another person. He further alleged that on August 10, 2023, the bank again connived with the impostor to divert his compensation – UGX 108,230,400 – and allowed it to be withdrawn in two instalments on August 10 and 11, 2023.Through his lawyer Nangulu Eddie of Nangulu & Mugoda Advocates, Wilson accused the bank of fraud and gross negligence in opening the account, honouring debit instructions from an impostor, and converting his funds. He sought recovery of the full amount, plus general and exemplary damages, interest and costs.UBA, represented by Buluma Enos of M.A. Kajubi & Co. Advocates, denied liability.Justice Farouq, however, found that the bank’s conduct fell below the standard expected of a financial institution, particularly for allowing the entire UGX 108.2 million to be withdrawn from a new account despite a daily withdrawal limit of UGX 15 million.“I have found in the foregoing that the defendant bank was negligent while opening the impugned bank account,” Justice Farouq ruled.Court Orders:The court ordered UBA to pay Wilson UGX 108,230,400 as a refund, UGX 20 million in general damages, costs of the suit, and 8% interest on the total award from the date of judgment until payment in full.The post Court Slaps UBA With UGX 108M Refund After Fraudsters Open Fake Account in Injured Guard’s Name appeared first on Business Focus.