RAKAI, UGANDA: A suspected smuggler in Rakai has been shot dead by the enforcement of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the tax collecting body confirmed in a Saturday statement.
The deceased identified as Frank Kakuba was shot by the URA enforcement team on Friday at around 4 am, after they were tipped that he was smuggling cosmetics from Tanzania.
“Yesterday at 4:00 am, the Uganda Revenue Authority enforcement team based in Masaka got information about the suspected smuggling of cosmetics from Tanzania. They mounted an interception on the Rakai route, where they came face-to-face with a Toyota Premio registration number UBA 671F,” a statement released by URA spokesperson Ibrahim Bbosa reads in part.
Kakuba, Bbosa said was flagged to stop by the enforcement team, but did not, which prompted them to pursue him to Rakai, Lumbugu, and they shot at his car to deflate the car tyres to stop him, unfortunately injuring him in the process.
“He was rushed to hospital, where he later succumbed to injuries and died,” he said
“It is regrettable to lose a Ugandan in this manner. URA does not condone the shooting of civilians, even smugglers. Our officers must adhere to a strict code of conduct in such operations by using intelligence-guided and covert means to identify, track and apprehend suspects for prosecution. Any officer acting contrary to the URA values and behavior will be held individually liable in accordance with the law,” he said.
URA, he said commiserates with the deceased’s family and is collaborating with the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Frank Kakuba.
“The officer involved has been arrested and a subject of investigation and prosecution,”
The deceased’s Toyota Premio, he said that upon verification, was discovered to be carrying 80 boxes of banned cancer-causing cosmetics declared harmful and illegal under the law.
“The East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) prescribes a penalty of 50% of the value of goods or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both for those caught violating the law. All those found culpable according to the Act will be liable to a fine not exceeding seven thousand dollars and have their goods forfeited,” he said
“We advise members of the public to desist from such illegal and dangerous ventures!” he concluded.
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