By VOM News Team
Uganda Wildlife Authority has issued an executive order for all licensed tour operators in the Country to provide company identification cards (IDs) of the officers who purchase Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits from (UWA) on behalf of their clients.
Executive Director Sam Mwandha said the directive takes effect from November 2023.
According to statement released to the media dated October 17th, 2023, UWA directs that officers who do not have IDs will not be served.
If the Tour operators wish to send another person who is not their employee, UWA should be informed in writing prior to sending the person.
The development comes following an investigation into allegations of fraud surrounding the sale of fake gorilla permits.
Eleven staff members working with UWA have been suspended.
UWA spokesperson Bashir Hangi says internal controls and monitoring systems revealed anomalies in the booking system, which raised red flags regarding the legitimacy of certain transactions and the integrity of the booking process.
Hangi expressed concern about the possible involvement of tour operators who are colluding with UWA staff to facilitate fraudulent activities.
Gorilla tourism generates significant revenue for wildlife conservation efforts in Uganda.
The circular further reminds all tour operators that all purchases for gorilla and chimpanzee permits have to be made at the reservation office in Kampala.
No payments for gorilla and chimpanzee permits are accepted at the parks and any attempts to do so may be considered as an attempt to defraud Uganda Wildlife Authority.
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