Fifteen officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala over allegations of orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme that cost the country more than Shs9.3 billion in lost revenue from gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits.
The scandal, which has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s lucrative wildlife tourism sector, involves the manipulation of UWA’s online reservation system to issue thousands of fraudulent permits over a three-year period between July 2020 and September 2023.
The Alleged Scheme
According to the charge sheet, the accused officials allegedly exploited their access to the Go Chimp reservation system—UWA’s digital platform for booking primate tracking experiences—to insert, confirm, and print invalid permits. These fraudulent documents allowed unauthorized visitors to access some of Uganda’s most protected wildlife areas, including the renowned gorilla habitats at Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s Nyakagezi sector and chimpanzee tracking sites at Kanyanchu and Kyambura.
Investigators estimate that over 8,400 fake permits were issued during this period, resulting in financial losses exceeding USD 2.5 million (approximately Shs9.3 billion). The fraud allegedly involved both active manipulation of the system and gross neglect of supervisory duties that allowed the scheme to continue undetected for years.
The Accused
The fifteen charged officials represent a cross-section of UWA’s senior and mid-level management, spanning finance, ICT, tourism, and reservations departments. Among the high-profile names are:
- Stephen Sanya Masaba, Director of Tourism and Business Development
- Jimmy Mugisa, Director of Finance and Administration
- Robert Maani, Senior Warden Accounts
- Leslie Muhindo, former Head of Reservations
- Alfred Emmanuel Ndikusooka, ICT Manager
- Gilbert Mwesigwa, Warden Software Developer
Several sales executives are also among those charged.
Each official faces multiple counts under the Anti-Corruption Act, Cap 116, including corruption (Section 2(1)), neglect of duty (Section 19(1)), and causing financial loss (Section 26). Additionally, all fifteen face conspiracy to defraud charges for allegedly colluding with other individuals still at large.
Uganda’s Gorilla Tourism Revenue
The fraud strikes at the heart of one of Uganda’s most valuable conservation and tourism assets. According to UWA data, gorilla and wildlife tourism generates substantial revenue for both conservation efforts and the national economy. UWA collects approximately USD 40-50 million (Shs150-187 billion) annually from all park entrance fees, permits, and tourism-related activities, with gorilla tracking permits representing a significant portion of this income.
A single gorilla tracking permit costs USD 700 for foreign non-residents, USD 600 for foreign residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. With limited permits available daily to minimize disturbance to the gorillas, each fraudulent permit represents not only direct financial loss but also potential ecological damage from unregulated visitor numbers.
Conservation Success Story Under Threat
The scandal comes at a particularly sensitive time for Uganda’s conservation efforts. Over the past two decades, UWA has worked tirelessly to protect and grow the mountain gorilla population, implementing strict tourism regulations, anti-poaching measures, and community engagement programs.
These efforts have yielded remarkable results. Uganda’s mountain gorilla population has grown from approximately 320 individuals in the early 2000s to over 460 today, according to the most recent census data. This represents roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, shared between Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and neighboring protected areas in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UWA has invested heavily in ranger training, veterinary care for sick or injured gorillas, habitat protection, and revenue-sharing schemes with local communities living adjacent to the parks. These community programs, funded largely by tourism revenue, have been crucial in reducing human-wildlife conflict and fostering local support for conservation.
The authority has also pioneered gorilla habituation experiences and maintained strict visitor protocols—including limiting group sizes to eight people, maintaining a seven-meter distance, and restricting visit duration to one hour—all designed to minimize stress on the gorilla families while allowing sustainable tourism.
The Investigation
The fraud was uncovered following internal audits that revealed irregularities in the Go Chimp reservation system. The findings prompted a joint investigation by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) of the Uganda Police Force and the Inspectorate of Government (IG), Uganda’s anti-corruption watchdog.
Investigators are still pursuing additional suspects believed to be part of the digital fraud ring, suggesting the scheme may have involved individuals beyond those currently charged.
Implications for Conservation
The case highlights the vulnerability of even well-intentioned digital systems to insider fraud and raises concerns about oversight mechanisms within conservation institutions. The lost revenue could have funded critical conservation activities, including ranger salaries, community development projects, wildlife veterinary services, and habitat maintenance.
UWA now faces the dual challenge of prosecuting those responsible while reassuring international tourists and conservation partners that systems have been strengthened to prevent future fraud.
The proceedings at the Anti-Corruption Court continue, with the nation watching closely to see whether justice will be served in a case that has undermined both Uganda’s conservation financing and its reputation as a premier gorilla tourism destination.