Uganda Revenue Authority has seized smuggled goods worth over UGX 200 million in taxes and penalties in Mbale district.

The goods were impounded in focused operations carried out in the last two weeks, according to customs officer Luke Kivumbi. Mbale district has in recent years become a hotbed for smuggling, with smugglers using porous borders to bring in uncustomed goods from Kenya.

A Toyota Noah registration number UAU 336J intercepted early in the operation was found to be ferrying smuggled consumer goods, including bar soap, wheat flour, energy drinks, and used clothes.

2435 square meters of polyester jacquard curtain material and 500 kg of Ingrams herbal cream were recovered from a truck registration number UBG 968W.

The biggest “catch” of the operation was a truck registration number KDN 185Y that had concealed curtain material and an array of commodities under matooke. The foreign truck accessed Uganda through the porous borders in Bukwo.

Thorough verification revealed over 700 pieces of kid’s clothing, 25 cylinders of Trifluoroethane Pentafluoroethane gas, cosmetics and hair products, women’s clothing, flat TV appliances, circuit breakers, a Honda motorized sprayer, and other assorted items.

During the operation, the team also hit two consolidation centres, where they retrieved over 90 cartons of bar soap, 10 cartons of wheat flour, and Kitenge material. They also did not spare motorbike smugglers, as two were intercepted and 30 cartons of wheat flour were recovered.

According to Kivumbi, the impounded goods are worth an estimated UGX 200 million in taxes and penalties.

Porous borders continue to pose a risk in the fight against illicit trade.

Ibrahim Bbossa, the Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs at URA, says the tax body has put strategies in place to stop uncustomed goods from flooding the market. These include using non-intrusive inspection technology, using informers, raiding suspected stores, and stepping up enforcement in high-risk areas.

By Akinyi Winiefred