The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Uganda Chapter has issued an urgent call for tougher anti-fraud controls as the country joins the rest of the world to mark the 2025 Fraud Awareness Week, which runs from 17 to 21 November.
Launching the week’s activities in Kampala, ACFE Uganda President George Turyamureba Mugabi warned that fraud remains one of the most persistent threats to national development costing institutions billions and undermining public confidence.
“Fraud is a major challenge that continues to undermine economic growth and trust. Addressing it is a shared responsibility that requires stronger systems, vigilance and collaboration,” Mugabi said, calling on organisations to reinforce internal controls and reporting mechanisms.
Throughout the week, ACFE Uganda will conduct stakeholder workshops, media sensitisation campaigns and free in-house awareness sessions tailored for institutions seeking to strengthen their safeguards against fraud.
A major highlight will be the 3rd Regional Fraud Conference, set for 20–21 November at Speke Resort Munyonyo under the theme:
“Safeguarding Integrity in the Virtual World Responding to Deepfakes and Insider-Threat Driven Fraud.”
The conference will explore emerging digital threats, including deepfake enabled fraud, insider collusion, data manipulation and financial cybercrime areas the ACFE says demand urgent attention as Uganda accelerates digital transformation.
ACFE Uganda, established in 2008, now has more than 150 Certified Fraud Examiners from key institutions such as the central bank, telecommunications firms and the revenue authority. It forms part of a global community of over 90,000 professionals fighting financial crime.
Mugabi encouraged organisations to use this year’s awareness week to assess vulnerabilities, retrain staff, and update anti-fraud frameworks.
“In the digital era, threats evolve faster than our systems. Strengthening fraud-risk frameworks is critical if institutions are to protect themselves and the public,” he said.
With Uganda’s financial ecosystem becoming increasingly digitised from mobile money to government revenue systems ACFE Uganda warns that proactive fraud prevention is no longer optional.
The chapter is urging government agencies, corporates, civil society and the public to take advantage of this year’s Fraud Awareness Week to reinforce ethics, improve accountability and build resilience against both traditional and modern fraud schemes.