The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has tightened measures against smuggling and increased the number of security personnel attached to the Authority to curb the voice. 

URA spokesperson Ibrahim Bbosa has told New Vision that to control the vice, URA had sought the services of UPDF, Police to ensure that the smugglers are dealt with. 

He said URA now has over 200 UPDF attacheés as part of the anti-smuggling enforcement and intelligence. 

“Smuggling has been around for a while, but we are now basically stepping up efforts to curb it because of the impact it has on legitimate businesses. We are also increasing sensitization and publicity so that those who do it know the risks involved,” Bbosa said. 

URA is now coordinating more with other government agencies to fight smuggling. We now work more closely with the Police and UPDF. 

Although there’s increased smuggling, Bbosa said there’s no study to relate the two with increased prices of commodities in the country. 

According to URA, several cases of smuggling have been reported in different parts of the country within the month of April. For example, in Mbale, the enforcement team intercepted a Toyota Noah Reg No.UAV 542 Q snaking down the hills of Sironko with 39 cartons of smuggled Pembe flour from Kenya.  According to URA,cars involved in smuggling are forfeited to the state.  

“Smuggling doesn't pay. We beseech the public to desist from the expensive and injurious practice,” the authority said. 

In Busia, the enforcement team intercepted 1.8 tonnes of smuggled baraf rice aptly disguised as locally manufactured sugar.  

In Kaliro, the enforcement team intercepted a Subaru Forester model 2010 formerly registered in South Sudan with number plate SSD 557CC. The car had a pair of illicitly acquired Ugandan registration plates No. UBJ 855J. 

In Nateete, URA intercepted 100 smuggled Bombas of Dunhill cigarettes. The contraband was carefully concealed in packs covered with dry banana leaves and sackcloth. Both the contraband and the vehicle were seized.