Police Arrest Man Accused of Posing as UWA Ranger in Bugoma Forest Scam

Bugoma Forest Reserve. A man has been arrested for Defrauding people in Bugoma forest claiming to be UWA staff.

Bugoma Forest Reserve. A man has been arrested for Defrauding people in Bugoma forest claiming to be UWA staff.

KIKUUBE, Uganda — Police have arrested a man accused of impersonating a Uganda Wildlife Authority officer and extorting money from residents seeking illegal access to Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.

The suspect, Tobius Dickens Atukunda, also known as Omuhereza Alinaitwe, was taken into custody at Pentagon Lodges in Kigaya Village, Kidooma Parish, Kizirafumbi Sub-county following public complaints, authorities said.

Atukunda falsely identified himself as the UWA Operational Commander for the Kidooma sector of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve and collected payments from residents in exchange for entry into the protected area, according to police. Investigators said he also demanded money from people transporting charcoal believed to have been illegally harvested from the forest, promising to let their vehicles pass without interference.

Police records indicate that on August 1, three residents reported that the suspect had defrauded them of an unspecified amount of money after promising to sell them pine logs from the Nsozi Beat of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.

The complaint prompted police investigations that led to his arrest.

A search at the lodge where he was staying recovered clothing bearing conservation-related branding, including a T-shirt with the Queen Elizabeth National Park logo and another printed with the Ugandan flag.

Police say the suspect allegedly wore the clothing to reinforce the impression that he was a UWA officer.

Investigators also analysed his call records for July 2026, which they say show that he frequently operated in Bunyaruguru and Kitagwenda districts, with additional activity around Bubogo, Kizirafumbi and Butoole near Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.

Albertine Region Police spokesperson Julius Hakiza confirmed the arrest, saying the suspect has been charged with impersonation under Criminal Reference Book (CRB) 509/2026 at Kikuube Central Police Station.

Hakiza said the suspect will be arraigned before court once investigations are complete and urged members of the public to report anyone suspected of impersonating government officials.

Wilson Kagoro, the Warden for Community Conservation at Murchison Falls National Park, said UWA is investigating several cases of individuals allegedly impersonating its staff to defraud communities living near Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.

He warned residents against engaging in illegal activities in the reserve or paying money to individuals claiming they can authorise access to the protected area.

UWA assumed responsibility for managing and protecting Bugoma Central Forest Reserve in May 2026 following a presidential directive aimed at strengthening conservation, curbing illegal encroachment and halting the degradation of the forest ecosystem.

The authority says the takeover has been followed by increased attempts by fraudsters to exploit nearby communities by falsely claiming to be UWA officials.