Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered a forensic audit into the 500 million Shillings gorilla trekking permit scam at the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA.

Medard Lubega Ssegonna, the COSASE Chairperson issued the directive on Tuesday while probing UWA officials led by the Executive Director, Sam Mwandha to answer queries raised by John Muwanga, the Auditor General in a FY 2022/2023 report relating to staff connivance to defraud the entity.

The audit report cited weak security features on Gorilla Trekking Permits in contravention of the financial procedures manual 2016 that requires UWA to establish effective systems and controls for the identification, receipt, collection, and safeguarding of its financial resources.

“The permits extended to Tourists tracking Gorillas lack security features that could deter fraudsters,” the audit stated.

Further, the report cited several conditions that are required to be placed on the back of the permit such as dates, visitor’s particulars, booking, and receipt numbers which would assist UWA in assessing information in case a tourist gets any complications were not given the due attention.

Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are issued by UWA to both local and foreign tourists for trekking activities. Issuing fake gorilla permits implied that the UWA officials pocketed the money and caused significant financial loss to the government.