The Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate, Racheal Nakyazze, has released several Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials accused of corruption and causing financial loss exceeding Shs 9.3 billion.
The officials were last week interrogated at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters and detained over their alleged involvement in a large-scale chimpanzee and gorilla permit fraud scheme that reportedly occurred between 2020 and 2023.
They were later arraigned before Anti-Corruption Court and charged with corruption, causing financial loss, and conspiracy to defraud the government of Shs9.3 billion.
Earlier today, nine of the 11 accused were granted bail after presenting sureties and local council letters. The remaining two will appear later due to late submission of documents. Bail conditions include cash payments, depositing land titles and passports, and restrictions on travel abroad. The case is scheduled to return to court on November 11, 2025.
Investigators say the officials manipulated the GoChimp digital permit system, issuing over 8,400 invalid permits for chimpanzee and gorilla tracking activities. The fake permits allegedly allowed unauthorized access to protected areas, including Nyakagezi, Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, Kyambura, and Kanyanchu, causing financial losses of over Shs 8.7 billion.
Among those released are ICT Manager Alfred Emmanuel Ndikusooka, Senior Warden Accounts Robert Maani, Director of Finance and Administration Jimmy Mugisa, Warden Software Developer Gilbert Mwesigwa, former Head of Reservations Leslie Muhindo, and Director of Tourism and Business Development Stephen Sanya Masaba, among others.
