Jinja, (UG): Uganda Revenue Authority says the customs enforcement team in Jinja successfully impounded a Fuso truck loaded with over two tons of smuggled rice concealed under sugarcanes.
According to Mr Philip Ofubo, the Customs officer at URA’s Jinja Branch, the enforcement team intercepted the truck smuggling the rice at a checkpoint in Jinja last Wednesday night after several reports of increased smuggling in Eastern Uganda during the festive season.
Successfully, he says the checkpoints have become fruitful as they are impounding several smuggled goods in the process.
“Last night at our checkpoint here at Jinja, we managed to impound M/V registration no. UBA 419G a Fuso which was seemingly conveying sugarcanes. But upon thorough checking, we discovered that the sugarcanes were a mere camouflage as the actual goods being conveyed were beneath the sugarcanes,” Ofubo narrated.
The URA enforcement team also arrested the smuggler, a one Mutebi Fred who confessed to buying the merchandise from Kenya and ferrying them on boda bodas to Kakira sugar plantation.
Ofubo said that the smuggler hired the Fuso truck to convey the merchandise to Lugazi for sale, unaware of the URA checkpoint along the route.
“When we impounded the truck, we ordered the driver to drive to our base and upon verification, we found 2,025 Kgs of Baraf and Sana rice, 4 bales of Kitenge fabric, seven and a half cartons of motor vehicle tyre bonding gum and 80 Kgs of used shoes,” Mr Ofubo stated.
The URA Jinja enforcement team emphasized that they are committed to ensuring 100% deterrence of any form of illicit trade in the area.
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