Two arrested over sh85m supermatch cigarette export scam

KAMPALA - Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials have arrested two men over an alleged fraudulent export scheme involving Supermatch cigarettes, in which a Congolese businessman was conned of $24,000 (about shillings 85 million).

The suspects, Frank Mugisha and George Muhumuza, are accused of obtaining money by false pretence and forging URA customs documentation to defraud the investor, Masereka Musavuli.

URA said the duo duped Musavuli into believing he was purchasing a consignment of 15,000 cartons of Supermatch cigarettes allegedly stored at a URA warehouse in Nakawa, Kampala district.

According to URA investigations, Mugisha claimed the cigarettes had been intercepted while in transit from Kenya and offered to export them on Musavuli’s behalf, while Muhumuza posed as the owner of the seized consignment.

“To make the deal look genuine, the suspects took the victim to URA, where he viewed sacks only from outside the premises and compared them with photos earlier shared via WhatsApp,” URA stated, adding that no legitimate export entry existed to support the transaction.

URA states that after making payment through an expired Payment Reference Number, Musavuli arranged packing materials and transport (not disclosed).

A truck hired to deliver the packaging to URA in Nakawa was weighed empty, impounded at the main gate and held for three weeks before being released without any cargo being loaded.

When the cigarettes failed to materialise, Musavuli reported the matter to URA under case file GEF 145/2025. URA investigators later confirmed that there was no record of any seized Supermatch cigarettes linked to the alleged deal.

The suspects, who are currently being held at the Central Police Station in Kampala, face charges of obtaining money by false pretences. Under the Penal Code Act, the offence of obtaining money by false pretences attracts a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, on conviction.

All seized tobacco products are destroyed

URA has, therefore, warned the public against falling for offers involving supposed sales of seized or impounded cigarettes.

URA acting manager for intelligence Alfred Kyamanywa said the tax body does not sell confiscated cigarettes, noting that all seized tobacco products are destroyed in accordance with the Tobacco Control Act, 2015.

Meanwhile, URA commissioner general John Rujoki Musinguzi condemned the suspects’ actions and urged traders and investors to verify export documents with URA and report suspicious deals to the URA offices or the Police.

“If someone claims they have cigarettes at Nakawa and offers to sell them, report them. The law will take its course,” Musinguzi said.

He added that the crackdown is aimed at protecting the public and preserving URA’s integrity.

In the financial year 2024/2025, URA destroyed tens of tonnes of illicit cigarettes, including Supermatch, Oris and Business Royal, as part of its efforts to protect Ugandans and genuine investors from dangerous and illegal products.

The URA 2024 report indicates that cigarettes account for 27% of all smuggled goods in the country, with Supermatch comprising 90% of the seized tobacco products.

On December 18, last year, URA destroyed contraband cigarettes, weighing approximately 36.64 tons, worth sh1.6b, at Luwero Industries Limited in Nakasongola district.

The destruction of the goods aligns with Section 217 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004, which mandates the forfeiture and disposal of contraband.