The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement team recently conducted a series of operations, resulting in the interception of two vehicles attempting to smuggle goods into Uganda and a third vehicle linked to a suspected tax fraud scheme.

The first operation involved the seizure of a Toyota Harrier carrying smuggled fabrics from Kenya. The driver attempted to present outdated exit notes from May and June, but enforcement officers detected the discrepancy and seized the vehicle.

In a separate incident on the same day, a Toyota Vanguard loaded with smuggled garments from Tanzania was intercepted. However, the driver attempted to escape, speeding away from the scene and abandoning the vehicle and goods. The vehicle was later towed to the URA’s Nakawa headquarters for further investigation.

As the team wrapped up their field operations, intelligence received from a reliable informant led them to a South African-registered Range Rover (JCL 845 FS) with a forged Temporary Road License (TRL), suspected of being involved in a complex tax fraud scheme. The vehicle was tracked using a combination of traffic cameras and trackers, and upon inspection, was found to have two different chassis numbers, a common tactic used by organized gangs to defraud taxes. The total taxes at stake for the Range Rover, a 2019 model, are estimated at UGX 175 million.

The enforcement team is conducting further investigations to trace the origins of the smuggling networks and identify potential collaborators. The vehicles and goods seized during these operations are currently in URA custody, and legal proceedings are expected to follow. The URA enforcement team remains committed to protecting local industries from unfair competition and ensuring that those who attempt to evade the law are brought to justice.

By Alex Murungi