By Fifteen senior officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been remanded to Luzira Prison over their alleged role in a Shs 9.3 billion permit fraud scheme.
The officials appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court after being questioned at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) over claims they manipulated UWA’s GoChimp digital permit system between 2020 and 2023.
Investigators say the group generated more than 8,400 fake gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits, granting unauthorized access to protected areas including Nyakagezi, Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, Kyambura, and Kanyanchu. The scheme allegedly cost the government over Shs 8.7 billion in lost tourism revenue.
Among those charged are ICT Manager Alfred Emmanuel Ndikusooka, Senior Warden Accounts Robert Maani, Director of Finance and Administration Jimmy Mugisa, and Director of Tourism and Business Development Stephen Sanya Masaba.
The case follows an internal UWA probe that led to the dismissal of four employees earlier this year, prompting a wider criminal investigation. The suspects will remain in custody as inquiries continue.
