The URA enforcement team in Jinja city recently disrupted a smuggling operation at Bukaya landing site in Buikwe. This was after a tip-off about an illicit consignment expected to land under the cover of darkness.

Acting on the intelligence, the team mounted a covert operation, tracking the movements of the suspected smugglers and positioning themselves to intercept the shipment.

According to Desmond Lumago, the URA enforcement officer in Eastern Uganda, the team mobilized in the early hours of the morning and advanced through Mabira forest to avoid detection. At 2:00 a.m., intelligence confirmed that the suspect boat was approaching the landing site, prompting officers to move closer to the shoreline.

The consignment was offloaded near King Fisher Resort in Bukaya and swiftly loaded into two vehicles, a Toyota Noah (UBR 742F) and a high roof Toyota HiAce (UBR 874J). The enforcement team intercepted the vehicles and escorted them to the Jinja Customs Office for verification.

A subsequent inspection led to the recovery of 80 cartons containing 192 pieces of button phone batteries (Model BL-5C, 3.7V, 1000mAh, dated 16/01/2026), four units of 100-inch LG televisions with AI processors (4K, Model QNED86A), and 98 kilograms of Angel’s brand hair braids packaged in three bundles.

Currently, the seized goods are under custody at Jinja Customs awaiting offense management proceedings.

By Garry Fortunate Murungi