The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities in Uganda has launched an investigation into reports of illegal sales of gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits. Media reports recently exposed a potential loss of up to 11.2 billion Ugandan shillings due to a syndicated fraud within the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Minister of Tourism Tom Butime expressed deep concern about the fraud and its impact on the country’s tourism sector.
The alleged fraud was initially detected internally by UWA, prompting an internal audit. Preliminary findings indicate possible fraudulent activities by some UWA staff from the Departments of Reservations, Finance, and Information Technology at the Head Office, with potential involvement of field staff. While the exact amount lost is uncertain, preliminary audit findings suggest a possible loss of around 500 million Ugandan shillings.
To investigate further, UWA initiated a detailed investigation involving the Investigations Unit and the Uganda Police Force. These investigations are ongoing, and 14 suspected UWA staff members have been suspended to facilitate the process. There are also suspicions that certain tour companies may have been involved, and investigations into their roles are underway. Those implicated will face legal prosecution.
Additionally, the Ministry has requested the Office of the Auditor General to conduct a comprehensive Forensic Audit covering the period from July 2020 to September 2023. This audit will include gorilla and chimpanzee bookings at national parks. The AG’s findings will be submitted to the Ministry, and collaboration with other relevant government bodies will be sought to ensure a thorough investigation and audit process.
The Ministry encourages the public to provide any relevant information that could aid in the investigation. Minister Butime acknowledged that this issue had persisted for some time and was only disclosed by a whistleblower.
This scandal raises concerns about the integrity of wildlife permit systems in Uganda and underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in managing the country’s rich biodiversity and tourism resources. The results of the ongoing investigations and audit are awaited to determine the extent of the alleged fraud and its impact on Uganda’s vital tourism sector.