Top Uganda Wildlife Officials Arrested in Multi-Billion Gorilla Permit Scandal
KAMPALA – In a significant crackdown on corruption, more than ten senior officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been arrested and are currently detained in multiple police stations across the capital. The arrests are linked to a massive financial scandal involving forged gorilla tracking permits that cost the government over UGX 9 billion.
The arrests were conducted by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) following a comprehensive forensic audit by the Office of the Auditor General. The detained officials are being held at Wandegeya, Kira Division, and Nateete Police Stations as they await their day in court.
The scandal, which came to light through an investigation initiated in 2023, uncovered a sophisticated scheme involving the forgery of permits for gorilla tracking—a premier tourist activity that generates significant revenue for the country. The audit further revealed that the officials engaged in the “recycling” of payment receipts, a practice where a single legitimate receipt was used multiple times to conceal the embezzlement of funds paid by tourists.
This elaborate fraud resulted in a staggering loss of UGX 9 billion (approximately $2.4 million) to the state over a mere two-year period.
“The detained officials will soon be produced in court to face charges of corruption and causing financial loss,” a source familiar with the operation confirmed.
The case has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s conservation and tourism sectors. Gorilla trekking in national parks like Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga is a cornerstone of Uganda’s tourism, attracting thousands of high-end visitors annually. The alleged corruption not only represents a major financial hemorrhage but also threatens to tarnish the integrity of one of the country’s most vital economic engines.
The public is now awaiting the formal charging of the officials, which is expected to shed more light on the full extent of the conspiracy and the identities of those involved. The swift action by the CID and the Auditor General’s office is being seen as a strong message from the government against high-level graft.
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