Meet this IS-linked Ugandan who attempted hacking IEBC database

A Ugandan national linked to Islamic State terrorist group has been nabbed in Nairobi for attempting to hack the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IENBC) database.

In addition, Mr Ronnie Nsale is under a probe over hacking allegations of him breaching into databases of banks, mobile phone companies and money transfer service providers.

After his arrest and detention in jail, police took him to court on Monday and asked for more time to complete investigations into claims that he stole money from Safaricom and several banks.

On detention, police realised that Nsale had links with the Syria based Islamic State, prompting them to detain him for three more days.

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In addition, Mr Nsale was taken to court for the second time Thursday and handed 15 more days in custody to allow anti-terrorism detectives to finalise on investigations.

The anti-terror detectives argued that the issue was sensitive and that details would be provided at a later date “to avoid jeopardising the ongoing investigations”.

In the latest turn, however, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Islamic State linkages have escalated the importance of the investigation, a senior police officer told the court.

Officers carrying out the investigation told the press in Nairobi that the two men were found with Internet Protocol addresses (IPs) of IEBC and Safaricom Limited servers and other high end banks.

The court heard in Nairobi on Thursday that the two were being investigated for hacking into computer systems of “vital and key installations, agencies and a telecommunication service provider”.

“The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit has been investigating the presence of ISIS/ISIL cyber caliphate in the country and whether the hacking of computer systems was linked to the terror groups, but will require more time since the information to be examined is about one terabyte,” Mr Duncan Ondimu, the prosecutor said.

The two were arrested on March 31 in connection with fraudulent activities at Safaricom Limited, Kenya’s leading telecommunication and mobile money transfer company.

The suspects are being held at the Kenya’s Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) headquarters in Nairobi.

According to an ATPU detective, they are being investigated for “providing property and services for the commission of terrorism, collection of information for the same and obstructing the course of justice”.

“Pursuant to intelligence information received and evidence gathered so far, there has been an increase in the use of the cyber space by ISIS/ISIL/DAESH propagating terrorism and related activities,” the court heard.

The prosecution said Mr Nsale refused to produce his passport and that his travel history was yet to be ascertained “as he frequently leaves and jets back into the country.”