Three residents of Arua City – Agufibo Morris, Acidri Gift, and Avayo Francis – have been sent to prison for having smuggled fuel.
The prosecution, represented by Brian Kisomose from the Director of Public Prosecutions office, informed the court that on May 8, 2024, the trio, while in different locations in Arua City, were found with 32.5 liters of petrol. This action goes against sections 318 and 319 of the Penal Code Act CAP 120.
In court, Avayo, aged 17, and his partner, Econi Louis Kagame, aged 16, stood before Senior Magistrate Imalingat Christine of Grade One Arua, pleading not guilty. Kagame received bail after providing two sureties, while Avayo was remanded to GiliGili Remand Home until May 15, 2024.
Similarly, Agufibo, 23, and Acidri, 27, appeared before Magistrate Edgar Tukahabwa of Grade One Arua, also denying the charges. They were remanded to Arua government prisons until May 31, 2024.
Fuel smuggling not only disrupts market prices but also hinders revenue collection.
The problem is especially serious in the West Nile region, along Uganda’s border with South Sudan, where smugglers exploit weak borders to bring in untaxed fuel.
Last year, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) made an agreement with South Sudan’s National Revenue Authority for joint patrols and surveillance along the border. This was aimed at addressing fuel smuggling, a common issue at the border.
URA also conducts operations targeting fuel smugglers based on intelligence in the border districts of the region.
Deogratius Kaleebi, URA’s customs supervisor in West Nile, reported that over 8000 liters of smuggled fuel have been seized in the region just this year.
