By Annet Nantongo
URA enforcement operations made a significant breakthrough in Malaba, Jinja and Mubende recently. The URA Malaba and Jinja enforcement teams intercepted 5 tons of basmati rice from a trailer and a taxi. The flatbed trailer was intercepted near Nakalama, Iganga laden with 3,660kgs of concealed rice bags among cement sacks.
The trailer, with registration numbers UAY922B/UAD191Q, was suspiciously parked at the roadside, reportedly due to mechanical issues near Tororo as a disguise move to smuggle the rice by hiding it under bags of cement.
Despite deceptive claims by the truck’s custodians to deter the URA teams from inspecting the truck, a thorough inspection discovered 2,850kgs of Sana Long Grain Parboiled Rice, 440kgs of Hilal Extra Long Grain Basmati Rice, 320kgs of Mahmoud Rice, and 50kgs of Basmati Parboiled Rice.
Rice is a common smuggled item on the Eastern trade route. On several occasions, URA intercepts smugglers cooking up ways to get their grains onto the market and make a kill in profits.
In the same week, the URA enforcement team in Jinja intercepted a taxi with unusual passengers who were later discovered to be 1,340kgs of rice. The taxi, registration number UBH 735N, tactfully dodged the Busitema checkpoint but was netted at Bugembe near Jinja city through intelligence reports.
The increase in rice smuggling that is notorious to the Eastern region, is attributed to a number of factors such as seeking for high prices and higher income, and high levies for rice imports from outside EAC, to mention but a few.
Today, the taxation regime for rice imported into the EAC region includes 75% import duty, 18% VAT, a withholding tax of 6% and also an infrastructure levy of 1.5%. This tax policy protects regional trade from market exploitation by aggressive importers of rice outside the EAC.
On the opposite end of the country, in an intelligence led operation in Mubende Municipality code named “Sweep Mubende Clean”, the Hoima Enforcement team targeted that were noted as dealers in smuggled contrabands.
The operation was conducted swiftly and goods ranging from cigarettes, Mijaj and cosmetics were impounded and conveyed to our enforcement stores in Hoima. Verification revealed 89 packets of Mijaj Tobacco, 173 Bombas of Supermatch cigarettes, 141 Bombas of Oris Double Apple Cigarettes, and 2 Bombas of Business Royal Super slim Strawberry cigarettes.
Additionally, the team recovered 674 pieces of contraband cosmetics comprised of Diana Lotion, Diprosone lotion, Epiderme cream and lotion, Carolight Oil, Coco Pulp Oil, Coco Pulp Lotion, Paw Paw Lotion, Beaution lotion, Carolight Lotion, and Princess Claire Cream.
In accordance with Sections 200 and 203 of the EACMMA, an importer found in the act of concealing goods faces up to five years in prison or a fine equal to half of the dutiable worth of the items in question. As a result, the truck and taxi used as the means of conveyance were seized for investigation and offence management.
URA remains committed to the duty of protecting the society from the adverse effects of the contraband goods while protection legitimate traders and manufacturers from market distortions created by supplies of these smuggled contrabands.
