Police and animal rights organisations in Uganda have rescued dozens of dogs from alleged fake animal shelters following a BBC investigation into online donation scams involving abused animals.
Authorities raided two neighbouring shelters in Mityana District, leading to the arrest of one suspect, while two others remain on the run, according to animal welfare activists.
Owen Godfrey Membe appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to charges of animal cruelty under Uganda’s Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Act. He has been remanded in custody until 27 May.
Prosecutors accuse Membe of “killing an animal in an unnecessarily cruel manner” in a case that has intensified scrutiny of online animal rescue fundraising schemes operating in Uganda.
The rescued dogs, including animals previously featured in viral social media fundraising campaigns, remain at the raided shelters under the supervision of the Animal Welfare Alliance Uganda. The coalition of local and international animal rights groups said emergency shelter facilities are being prepared to relocate and rehabilitate the dogs.
The legal case was filed by the Animal Justice Center, a Uganda-based advocacy organisation, with support from UK campaign group We Won’t Be Scammed. The organisation has been investigating alleged fraudulent animal rescue operations that solicit donations from foreign animal lovers through distressing online content.
The arrests come after a BBC undercover investigation uncovered how social media operators in Mityana allegedly used videos and photos of injured dogs to collect hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations from international supporters.
According to the investigation, some of the funds intended for animal care were instead used to finance lavish personal lifestyles. The report also alleged that certain dogs may have been deliberately harmed to create emotional content designed to attract donations.
One case highlighted by the BBC involved a dog named Russet, whose severe leg injuries were widely shared across multiple social media accounts alongside appeals for urgent medical funding.
The investigation traced Russet’s treatment to a veterinary clinic in Kampala, where a veterinary surgeon reportedly concluded that the injuries may have been intentionally inflicted. The dog later died.
“This case is the first arrest after the world has seen how this scam has developed into an online content creator’s scamming business,” said Bart Kakooza, vice-chairperson of Animal Welfare Alliance Uganda.
“The entire world is now watching to see how Uganda will bring these cases to justice and how these animals will be given a new chance at life without cruelty,” he added.
Animal welfare organisations say the rescue operation marks a major step in tackling organised animal exploitation and online donation fraud in Uganda.
