Fourteen employees of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been suspended due to their alleged involvement in a gorilla permit scandal. The government has taken this step to facilitate a thorough investigation into a scandal estimated to involve 60 billion Ugandan shillings.
Tourism State Minister Martin Mugarra disclosed these developments during a plenary session on Thursday, October 5, 2023. It is reported that officials working in the booking department are accused of issuing counterfeit gorilla permits to unsuspecting tourists over a three-year period.
Minister Mugarra stated, “The findings suggest that approximately 500 million shillings may have been lost in three months. About 14 of our staff have been identified as suspects, and some tour companies may have been implicated in the fraud. Further investigations are ongoing to determine their roles in this fraudulent activity.”
He continued, “The ministry has also 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 encompass gorilla bookings at Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks, Kibaale National Park, and Kyambura Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.”
In the interim, they have asked Auditor General John Muwanga and his team to expedite their inquiry and devise a new booking and revenue collection system to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Debate on the matter has been restricted on the grounds that it could compromise ongoing investigations. Mary Begumisa (Sembabule District Woman, NRM) raised a procedural point and urged, “The ministries of tourism and foreign affairs should collaborate to ensure that this matter does not become public until the investigations are concluded, as it could harm our tourism reputation.”
Minister Mugarra’s comments were in response to Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa’s directive on the subject from the previous day. Tayebwa remarked, “I have been following this matter closely, and it pertains to public funds. Could you please provide an update to the House, without jeopardizing the ongoing investigations?”
A gorilla tracking permit is an official document that authorizes individuals to visit a sanctuary inhabited by these humanoid creatures. In 2023/24, the cost of a gorilla tracking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and 250,000 Ugandan shillings for East African residents. Travelers who wish to spend more time with mountain gorillas must obtain a habituation permit, which costs $1,500 for foreign non-residents, $1,000 for foreign residents, and 750,000 shillings for East African citizens.
In the 2018/2019 fiscal year, UWA generated over $25 million in revenue from issuing permits for approximately 40,000 gorilla tours, marking a 40% increase compared to previous years, according to official documents.
