Pan-African Coalition Demands Uganda Crack Down on Sham Rescue Networks Tied to Fundraising Fraud

A pan-African animal welfare coalition has called for urgent government intervention in Uganda after a BBC Africa Eye investigation exposed sham dog and cat rescue operators who allegedly abused animals to fuel fraudulent online fundraising campaigns targeting overseas donors.

The Details

The Coalition For Cruelty Free Africa issued its public call for urgent action on May 5, one day after the BBC published its Africa Eye investigation into rescue-shelter scams operating in and around Mityana, Uganda. According to the BBC, undercover reporters found that sham operators used distressed animals, fabricated shelter narratives, and repeated social-media fundraising appeals to solicit money from donors abroad. The BBC reported that the fraudulent appeals were directed at overseas donors. BBC data analysis found that more than $730,000 had been raised for animal shelters in Uganda through hundreds of GoFundMe campaigns over five years, with nearly 40% of the fundraisers analysed connected to Mityana, the network's reported hub. The BBC named Mityana as the geographic centre of the fraudulent network. In undercover footage published by the BBC, shelter operator Charles Lubajja described fake veterinary treatments, inflated food costs, and treating foreign donors as a source of cash rather than genuine rescue support. The investigation captured operators on camera describing their own methods for extracting money from overseas supporters. The BBC reported that Lubajja acknowledged cases where scammers had cut dogs to create fundraising content. Veterinarian Dr Isa Lutebemberwa told the BBC that X-rays of the dog Russet made an ordinary traffic accident an unlikely explanation for his leg injuries. Bart Kakooza, chairman of the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, was cited in the BBC investigation as activists pursued legal action following the probe.

Context

The coalition said the problem was not confined to Uganda. In a statement carried by the Ghana News Agency on May 5, the coalition warned that similar animal abuse scam operations had been identified across Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, and beyond, all exploiting animal suffering to deceive donors globally. According to the Ghana News Agency, the coalition issued its statement in direct response to the BBC expose. The coalition argued that unchecked scam fundraising erodes trust in legitimate animal rescue organisations. The coalition stated, "This is not an isolated case. There are multiple animal abuse scam operations across Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, and beyond, all exploiting animal suffering to deceive donors globally." The BBC reported that Mityana had become notorious among online animal rescue activists for sham dog rescue shelters that repeatedly recycled the same dogs across multiple fundraising accounts. Follow-up reporting said activists are pursuing legal action including private prosecutions after the BBC probe, and noted a prior 2023 enforcement action in Mityana that rescued injured dogs from a suspected sham shelter. That prior intervention suggested the problem had persisted despite earlier enforcement efforts. Activists now see stronger legal deterrence and cross-border cooperation as necessary because online donation flows sustain the abuse network, according to follow-up reporting. The coalition said the networks use social media to reach donors worldwide. The coalition highlighted Lubajja's comments in the undercover footage, where he was recorded describing his approach to foreign donors. He was quoted as saying, "Once you get a white donor, don't treat them as a brother. You have to squeeze them [take their money]. Drain them."

What's Next

In its statement, the Coalition For Cruelty Free Africa demanded arrests, rescues, inspections, and intervention by social-media platforms to remove scam accounts. The coalition's demands include specific calls for law enforcement to arrest identified operators. The coalition called for government inspections of suspected sham shelters, the rescue of animals currently held by fraudulent operators, and coordination with fundraising platforms to shut down fraudulent campaigns. Follow-up reporting said activists were moving toward legal action, including private prosecutions, and were pushing donors to verify rescue appeals before giving money. According to follow-up reporting, activists see donor verification as a necessary step to cut off funding to fraudulent operations. Kakooza told the BBC, "We hope this case will be a deterrent for many other people who wish to continue operating in this illegal trade." The BBC said activists are now urging stronger enforcement to prevent the continued exploitation of animals for online profit. The call for cross-border cooperation reflects the coalition's assessment that the networks span multiple countries and rely on global payment systems and social media to reach donors.