By Aggrey Baba
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has arrested two individuals and impounded a truck loaded with 35 sacks of smuggled cigarettes in an enforcement operation carried out last week in Apac District.
The crackdown followed credible intelligence shared by the Northern Regional Intelligence Liaison Officers (RILO), who alerted URA about a suspicious consignment destined for Kampala through the Apac-Masindi Port ferry route.
According to URA, the truck, registration number UBG 541Y, was intercepted by enforcement teams during a targeted operation. Upon inspection, officers discovered 35 sacks of undeclared cigarettes, believed to have been smuggled into the country with the intention of evading taxes.
The suspects, whose identities have not yet been disclosed, are currently in custody at the URA Intelligence Office in Nakawa as investigations and offence management continue.
“This operation is a demonstration of our continued commitment to curbing smuggling and protecting Uganda’s economy from revenue leakages,” URA noted in a statement.
The Tax Authority further revealed that such illegal consignments not only deny the country vital revenue but also pose serious public health risks, as the products are unregulated and do not meet national standards.
This development comes shortly, after a similar enforcement success, where URA reportedly destroyed over 36 tonnes of illicit cigarettes worth approximately UGX 1.68 billion recently, in Nakasongola.
Established in 1991, URA is mandated to assess, collect, and account for government revenue. And over the years, it has strengthened its enforcement operations to ensure fair trade and compliance with tax laws.
The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to smuggling or tax evasion, especially in remote and border communities where such illegal practices are common. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
