More than ten senior officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been arrested in connection with a massive corruption scheme involving forged gorilla tracking permits and recycled payment receipts.
The suspects were apprehended following a forensic audit by the Auditor General that uncovered widespread irregularities in UWA’s permit issuance system.
According to the audit report, the fraudulent scheme—believed to have operated between 2021 and 2023—led to the loss of over Shs 9 billion in government revenue intended for wildlife conservation. Investigators allege that officials colluded to forge tracking permits and reissue already used payment receipts to unsuspecting tourists and tour operators.
Sources within the investigation said the detained officials are likely to face charges of corruption, abuse of office, and causing financial loss to government once they appear in court in the coming days.
This latest scandal comes only months after UWA dismissed four employees over similar permit-related fraud that was initially estimated to have cost the agency Shs 500 million. The new findings suggest the racket was much larger and more organised than previously thought.
Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits—highly sought after by local and international tourists—generate millions of shillings annually. Proceeds from the permits are meant to fund conservation projects and community development in protected areas such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Officials from the Ministry of Tourism are yet to issue an official statement, but sources say a wider probe into UWA’s financial systems is now underway to prevent further revenue leakages.
