The hackers, identifying themselves as "Waste," reportedly accessed the Bank of Uganda's IT systems and illicitly transferred the funds earlier this month.

The hacking group based in Southeast Asia, sent part of the stolen money to Japan, New Vision said, citing unnamed sources at the bank.

Bank of Uganda did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the matter. The Ugandan police also did not respond to a request for comments.

New Vision said the central bank had successfully recovered over half of the money from the hackers. In response to the cyber attack, President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an investigation, it said.

Separately Uganda's biggest independent newspaper, Daily Monitor, reported that the theft may have involved collusion by insiders.

--Reuters--