The government of Uganda has taken action in response to the recent gorilla permit fraud scandal by directing the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit of the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s (UWA) financial records. This decision comes after widespread shock and public demand for government intervention following reports of the scam.
Auditor General John Muwanga and his team have been given 30 days to investigate the fraud, determine how it occurred, identify those responsible, and report their findings to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
During a press briefing at the government’s Media Centre, Tourism Minister Col.w Tom Butime expressed his ministry’s deep concern about the alleged fraud and the negative impact it has had on Uganda’s reputation.
The forensic audit will cover gorilla and chimpanzee bookings at various national parks, including Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibale, and Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge. The goal is to understand the extent of the crime, identify those involved, and gather forensic evidence for potential prosecution.
The fraud scheme involved the fraudulent sale of gorilla tracking permits, including recycling permits between clients and tampering with invoices. It is estimated that the fraud has cost the government a significant amount of money over several years.
Minister Butime revealed that the internal inquiry into the fraud suggested possible involvement of UWA staff from the departments of Reservations, Finance, and Information Technology, possibly in collusion with some field staff. Tour operators found to have colluded with UWA staff to defraud the government will face deregistration, license revocation, and legal action to recover lost funds. Similarly, UWA employees implicated in the scam will face severe consequences.
So far, 14 UWA staff members have been suspended as police investigations continue. The government aims to hold those responsible accountable for their actions and prevent future fraudulent activities.
The Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) also expressed its sadness over the involvement of tour companies in the scam. AUTO emphasized that it does not condone such illegal acts and holds its members to high integrity standards. The association called for a thorough investigation into the matter, including chimpanzee tracking permits and park entry fees, where similar fraudulent activities have been reported.