If found guilty, the NGO could lose its tax-exempt status, face federal prosecution, and incur heavy civil penalties.
Kampala, Uganda / Seattle, USA: Pilgrim Africa, a Ugandan faith-based non-profit organization operating in both Uganda and the United States, is under intense legal and public scrutiny over a sweeping corruption and mismanagement scandal.
A criminal complaint registered under High Court case number MC-14-2025, seen by DailyExpress, accuses Pilgrim Africa’s leadership of gross financial misconduct, including diversion of donor funds, failure to comply with NGO regulations, and using humanitarian initiatives for political mobilization.
The charges stem from allegations that substantial sums earmarked for malaria intervention and humanitarian work were funneled into unauthorized political campaigns without the knowledge or consent of key oversight institutions, including the Office of the Minister for Teso Affairs, district local governments, and community development authorities.
Senior advocates behind the lawsuit cite violations of multiple Ugandan laws, including the NGO Act, 2016, the Anti-Corruption Act, and provisions of the Penal Code relating to embezzlement and obtaining money by false pretenses.
“We were promised health services and community development, but all we see are political rallies and unexplained expenditures,” said a local councilor from Soroti.
NGO Bureau, Donors Alarmed
Uganda’s National Bureau for NGOs has reportedly flagged the organization for failure to submit mandatory financial and operational reports. Investigators say programs run under the guise of “community outreach” were politically charged events lacking proper authorization, contrary to Pilgrim Africa’s registered objectives.
In response, a petition signed by civil society leaders, district chairpersons, and affected community members has urged international donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and Rotary International chapters, to halt all funding pending a forensic audit.
Preliminary reviews suggest the following irregularities, including inflated payments to contractors, ghost procurements, disbursement of funds to shadow entities, and alleged personal enrichment of executives
With a registered office in Seattle, Washington, Pilgrim Africa also faces possible legal action in the United States for violating the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and the Federal False Claims Act. If found guilty, the NGO could lose its tax-exempt status, face federal prosecution, and incur heavy civil penalties.
Fallout in Teso, Karamoja Regions
The backlash has been fiercest in Teso and Karamoja, where the NGO has historically operated. Disillusioned community members accuse Pilgrim Africa of betrayal, alleging its projects served as smokescreens for elite-driven political mobilization, not public service delivery.
Uganda’s Inspectorate of Government (IGG) and Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) have now opened independent investigations into the NGO’s financial flows and program implementation history.
By press time, Pilgrim Africa had yet to issue a formal public response on the allegations.
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