Col Nakalema intervenes in extortion case involving UWA staffer

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The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col Edith Nakalema, intervened Friday in an extortion case involving an employee of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Dr Rachael Mbabazi, a manager at UWA, allegedly extorted 47 million shillings from Hajji Isaac Mulindwa, who is said to have wanted to purchase wild animals to put on his 640-acre ranch at Busikili, Matugga, in Wakiso district.

Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) Col. Edith Nakalema and the Director Biodiversity Management at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) John Makombo in a meeting where the SHIPU head Intervened in an extortion case involving an UWA staff. (Photo by Tony Rujuta)

Mulindwa reportedly paid the money in question to Mbabazi through her private bank and mobile money accounts. And according to Mbabazi, the money was meant to transport the animals to Mulindwa's farm.

Mulindwa also reportedly paid 8,000 US dollars to the UWA bank account as payment for the wild animals and subsequently fulfilled all the other necessary requirements in May 2023.

He later received a license from UWA, giving him authority to own 100 wild animals privately. Out of 100 animals, Mulindwa is said to have received only 31.

Nakalema addressed the matter at a press conference held at the SHIPU offices in Kampala.

Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) Col. Edith Nakalema delivers her speech during the meeting. (Photo by Tony Rujuta)

“It's not UWA which frustrated you Hajji, it was one of their staff. Our role as SHIPU is to coordinate all government ministries and agencies to ensure that investors are not delayed or frustrated as long as they have fulfilled what is required of them,” she said.

“The issue remains that the officer who is implicated should leave the government office. It's not right for any government officer to receive money in your private bank account or mobile money account.

"What Mbabazi did was abuse of office. Hajji was delayed despite fulfilling all that was required of him and getting a license from UWA.”

Nakalema urged Ugandans not to deal with individuals when it comes to doing business with the government.

“I would like to inform our esteemed citizens, but particularly our investors, not to deal with individuals, but institutions. The problem of dealing with individuals is that you expose yourself to extortion. Deal with heads of agencies or offices,” she said.

'We regret the incident'

Nakalema commended UWA executive director Dr James Musinguzi for his quick response when the issue was brought to his attention.

“We congratulate UWA for their commitment to resolving the issue by promising to give all the remaining animals he [Mulindwa] paid for in a few days,” she said.

“Our work was to coordinate with the respective agency to ensure that the errant officer is brought to book.”

Nakalema handed Mbabazi’s case to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for further management.

Representing UWA boss Musinguzi, the authority's director of biodiversity management, John Makombo, said that as UWA, they have closely worked with SHIPU to ensure that they reasonably conclude this matter.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) John Makombo delivers his remarks during the meeting. (Photo by Tony Rujuta)

“We received this complaint on Monday, and we are here today on behalf of the UWA executive director to see how we can mitigate the problem. We regret the incident, and we are going to deliver the rest of the animals to Mzee,” said Makombo.

“We regret what Rachael did and we are going to ensure that we make our staff do better and ensure that the image of UWA is protected.”

Makombo also assured the general public that the incident is an isolated one and involved individual actions.

“Our rules don't allow our staff to receive money directly. We have a cashless system. We want to let you know that UWA is a good institution and it does not promote this kind of situation,” he said, before assuring that Mbabazi will also face UWA disciplinary action at the human resource level.

Makombo also apologised to Mulindwa for the mishap.

The complainant Hajji Isaac Mulindwa delivers his remarks during a meeting. (Photo by Tony Rujuta)

On his part, Mulindwa thanked Nakalema for her intervention, saying that she handled his issue promptly and professionally.

“I like the way you have handled my issue, and I pray to God to keep you like that,” he said.

“I also sat with Mbabazi, and her lawyers and they have so far paid me 22 million shillings, and they agreed to pay the balance in two weeks.”