By Irene Kabakama
Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) ongoing efforts to combat illicit trade have seen notable success this past week, with several smuggling attempts intercepted and thwarted.
On May 4, 2025, URA officials intercepted a truck with registration number UBK 671L, which was laden with smuggled wheat flour originating from a store in Bukwo town, Bukwo district, eastern Uganda. The operation was a result of weeks of intelligence gathering by the enforcement and border control teams based in Mbale.
The interception, however, was not without its chaos. As authorities moved to seize the goods, a mob gathered and blockaded the road with heavy stones, attempting to recover the confiscated items. One officer involved recounted, “A mob gathered and blocked the road with heavy stones, but we remained safe at the police station.”
Reinforcements from Mbale and Lwakhakha arrived on the scene, and the goods were safely transferred to the URA station in Mbale. Physical inspection revealed 218 cartons of assorted wheat flour.
In a separate case, law enforcement officials stopped a Toyota Noah, registration number UA 026 AM, which was found transporting over 2,000 packets of Supermatch cigarettes intended for export in Serere District. This operation was part of a coordinated effort between enforcement teams from Moroto and Soroti, who targeted suspicious routes along the Ngora-Serere roads—connectors to Mbale and northern Uganda.
Both cases are currently under further investigation as part of offence management procedures.
URA emphasizes its unwavering commitment to protecting legitimate trade activities and urges citizens to report any suspected illegal trade practices to facilitate continued enforcement efforts.
