Abel Gulu, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) supervisor for enforcement in Northern Uganda, has issued a warning regarding the dangers posed by fuel smuggling, highlighting it as not only a revenue threat but also a security hazard affecting communities for generations.
Gulu’s caution comes in response to a tragic incident where 43-year-old Asuru Doreen and her 13-year-old daughter, Irene Atibaru, lost their lives in a petrol fire that engulfed their kitchen. The devastating event occurred as Doreen was filling plastic bottles with petrol, a practice she often engaged in to sell fuel by the roadside near their home in Tobolia Trading Center, Pelele Village, Ciaba Parish, Logiri Sub County.
According to Anguyo Emmanuel, the brother of the deceased, the fire erupted when Irene lit a fire in the kitchen while her mother was filling the bottles with fuel. Efforts to rescue them were in vain as the fire spread rapidly, resulting in their tragic deaths.
This incident marks the second petrol fire fatality in Arua this year, following a similar occurrence in January where a newly married couple lost their lives due to a fire caused by stored petrol in Okuazaku cell, Arivu Ward in Arua City.
In response to these tragedies, Abel Gulu stresses the need for concerted efforts from the public and regulators to combat fuel smuggling, particularly prevalent in the West Nile region. He emphasizes the urgency of campaigns against the sale and storage of fuel in residential areas, highlighting the detrimental impact on lives and the future of communities.
To address the issue comprehensively, URA is devising strategies to target both the supply and demand sides of the fuel value chain, including the prosecution of smugglers. Gulu also emphasizes the importance of bilateral engagement with neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR-Congo) to harmonize tax policies and combat cross-border smuggling.
Furthermore, Gulu links the decline in academic performance in the region to the involvement of children in smuggling activities. He urges parents to discourage their children from engaging in such activities, as it not only jeopardizes their education but also contributes to poor academic outcomes.
