Officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been granted bail by the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala after being charged with causing a financial loss of over Shs 9.3 billion to the government.

The accused allegedly issued more than 8,400 fake gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits, allowing tourists to access national parks without proper authorization. The fraud reportedly exploited UWA’s GoChimp online permit system, with staff creating duplicate accounts to generate counterfeit permits that appeared genuine.

The affected conservation areas include Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla, Kibale, and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. A single tracking permit costs up to US $800 for foreign visitors, making the scam particularly costly to the tourism sector.

The suspects, among them Stephen Sanyi Masaba, Jimmy Mugisa, Robert Maani, Alfred Emmanuel Ndikusooka, and Leslie Muhindo, face charges under the Anti-Corruption Act, 2009 and the Penal Code Act, which carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Also released are ICT and Sales Executives Gad Ekochu, Josephine Kayonza, and Rose Namutebi. They were earlier remanded to Luzira Prison alongside Shafic Twebaze and Susan Ayupa, both Sales Executives, whose bail applications were not heard on Friday after their documents were filed late. Chief Magistrate Rachael Nakyazze stated that “their applications will be handled in the next sitting.”

The prosecution, led by Barbara Kauma and Edward Muhumuza, argued against bail, citing risks of witness interference and the seriousness of the offence. However, Chief Magistrate Rachael Nakyazze ruled that the applicants met the bail requirements and reminded the court that “bail is a constitutional right and the accused remains innocent until proven guilty.”

Each official paid Shs 5–10 million in cash bail, surrendered their passports and land titles, and must seek permission before travelling abroad. The case has been adjourned to November 11, 2025, for further mention as investigations continue, with several suspects still at large.

URN