By Immaculate Wanyenze
The Customs enforcement team one has intercepted 4 trucks whose owners are members of a syndicate that specialize in rebagging of rice from kenya making it appear as local rice from Uganda.
Following intelligence reports, the culprits of this habit had their trucks impounded in the areas of; Lugazi, Kayunga and Mukono. As is the norm, the drivers took off for their “safety”.
According to John Olowo, one of the enforcement officers part of this operation explained that smugglers have opted to rebagging of items especially rice as another means to dodge taxes.
In this case, the smugglers emptied bags of basmati rice into Uganda branded bags so that it passes off as local rice.
“Kenya has a policy that allows their rice not to pay taxes so smugglers take advantage of this to bring it to Uganda for free,” Olowo explained.
Unfortunately, because the team was alert, the smugglers abnormal profits where cut short. All the four trucks are currently in Nakawa and the owners will be penalized even after paying the taxes due for the rice.
For Olowo, these constant operations are aimed at deterring schemes of tax defaulters since they deprive legit traders of completion. The total number of the re-bagged basmati rice was 43.7 tons.
