Recently, enforcement officers from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) stationed in Elegu, a town at the Uganda-South Sudan border, encountered an unusual scene involving a smuggler in Alinyapi. Utilizing hidden pathways along River Onyama, a group of young people had devised a scheme to transport contraband goods across the water body for trading within Ugandan territory.
Due to recent rises in water levels, the enforcement team had temporarily ceased monitoring the route. However, upon their return, they discovered a group of young men navigating the river completely undressed, ferrying jerricans filled with cooking oil, rice, soap, sugar, and other items. These youths employed ropes stretched across the river to pull jerrycans and other goods, ensuring they remained well-covered to prevent water damage.
During an enforcement operation on Tuesday of this week, officers intercepted a middle-aged man smuggling jerrycans of cooking oil and assorted food items at Alinyapi. In a desperate attempt to evade capture, the man threw himself to the ground and feigned death. The enforcement team, alarmed by his condition, promptly transported the “supposedly deceased individual” on a three-wheeler motorcycle, locally known as a tuk-tuk, to Alinyapi HCII. Medical personnel at the health center confirmed that the man was indeed alive and well.
The operation yielded the confiscation of eight motorcycles used in smuggling activities, along with 1,340 liters of Dynas cooking oil, 1,000 liters of petrol, 500 bars of soap, 125 kilograms of brown sugar, and 600 packets of spaghetti.
While traders continue to devise creative methods to evade taxes and smuggle goods, the URA has intensified its intelligence efforts to combat these illicit activities. Ibrahim K. Bbossa, spokesperson for the URA, encourages traders to adhere to established procedures designed to facilitate legitimate trade. Bbossa highlighted the URA’s deployment of over 27 Non-Intrusive Inspection cargo scanners at official border posts as part of its technological advancements to combat smuggling.
Additionally, the URA plans to invest in surveillance drones to monitor porous border points more effectively, further deterring smuggling activities and fostering a fair marketplace for Ugandan traders.
