By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan
The URA enforcement team in Jinja has recovered over 68,000 square meters of fabrics and textiles that had been smuggled into the country. Two trucks that were carrying the textiles were also seized by the team.
According to Philip Ofubo, the in-charge Jinja enforcement, the first truck, a box body UBH 863M, was seized early Monday morning.
“We got information last Friday about a vehicle intending to convey 200 bales of textiles that were stacked in Kenya and we heightened our intelligence and checks at the Jinja Bridge,” narrated Ofubo.
He explained that the vehicle was apprehended at 3:00 am on Monday and a thorough inspection revealed 5.6 tons of double-faced polycotton kitenge fabrics made in China.
“We did not sight the vehicle on Friday and when we got more intelligence that Kakembo Abubakar, who is known for smuggling had left Kampala for the Eastern region, we heightened our antennas until we captured the uncustomed goods in the wee hours on Monday,” Ofubo narrated.
Ofubo added that Kakembo, a habitual smuggler, is also wanted for failing to declare 1.6 tons of used clothes that were seized while being transported on the same box body.
“On January 17, 2024, we intercepted the same vehicle with over 2 tons of used clothes, but only 400 kg had been declared. The excess was seized, and the offense is yet to be settled since Kakembo declined to sign the seizure notice and took off.” -Ofubo.
In a related incident, a Fuso truck registration number UBL 378Y was impounded in Jinja last Thursday. Although the truck was declared to be hauling sawdust, closer inspection revealed that it was carrying 31,000 square meters of various textile rolls.
URA’s Supervisor of Customs Enforcement Eastern Region, Paul Karatunga, revealed that the culprits will have to pay about UGX 234 million in taxes and penalties.
He called upon traders to desist from the temptation of smuggling, highlighting URA’s heightened intelligence.
