Full Breakdown
Ugandan Dog-Rescue Scams Exposed: Online Fundraisers Exploit Animals and Donors
5/4/2026, 12:47:45 PM
Background & Context
The rise of social-media-driven animal-rescue appeals has coincided with a lucrative online fundraising market. Western donors, especially in Europe, North America and Australia, frequently respond to emotive videos of dogs in distress, creating a demand that scammers in Uganda have exploited.
Scam Operations in Mityana
In Mityana, a trading centre 70 km from Kampala, individuals film injured or emaciated dogs in makeshift shelters, then post the footage on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube with pleas for donations via GoFundMe or PayPal. The dog known as “Russet” appeared in dozens of campaigns, raising thousands of dollars before dying despite treatment.
Key Figures & Groups
Key participants include Bart Kakooza, chairman of the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals; Charles Lubajja, operator of a shelter used for filming; Dr Isa Lutebemberwa, a Kampala veterinarian who treated Russet; and Nicola Baird, founder of the activist network “We Won’t Be Scammed”.
Data & Statistics
BBC Africa Eye analysis found more than $730,000 (£540,000) raised for Ugandan shelters, with nearly 40 % of examined fundraisers linked to Mityana. Undercover footage documented about 15 dogs confined in a single cage, many underweight and lethargic.
On-the-Ground Reports
Journalists posing as newcomers accessed a rented shelter where dogs were kept in waste-filled cages. Lubajja admitted the operation existed primarily to generate money from foreign donors, describing the practice as a business rather than a rescue effort.
Official Statements & Responses
The Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals warned that impulsive donations fuel the cruelty, urging donors to verify appeals. Mityana police reported a 2023 raid rescuing 24 dogs and briefly charging three suspects, though the case was later closed with warnings.
Criticism & Opposition
Activists behind “We Won’t Be Scammed” label the scammers “the epitome of evil” and campaign to expose fraudulent accounts. They argue that donor money prolongs animal suffering and call for stricter platform oversight and donor education.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While BBC Africa Eye cites $730,000 raised, other sources claim the syndicate generated up to $2.5 million globally, indicating a discrepancy in total proceeds. Authorities have limited capacity to prosecute animal-cruelty cases, and many operational details of the network remain undocumented.
Verbatim Quotes
"There are young men in the [Ugandan] countryside who are always looking for anything to do on the internet," — Bart Kakooza, chairman, Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals
"The scammers, I just have hatred for them," — Nicola Baird, founder, We Won't Be Scammed
"If you look at these bones, all of them were broken almost in the same position," — Dr Isa Lutebemberwa, veterinarian
Why It Matters / Impact
The scheme exploits compassionate donors, fuels animal cruelty, and undermines trust in legitimate charities, highlighting the need for stricter platform policies and donor globally due diligence and accountability.
What's Next
Activists are pursuing private prosecutions, urging platforms to enforce anti-abuse rules, while authorities consider tighter animal-welfare legislation and improved monitoring of online fundraisers to protect vulnerable animals worldwide.
