The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has seized a range of smuggled goods in Mpondwe, Kasese District, following a renewed crackdown on illegal trade along the border.
Among the impounded items are Kitenge fabrics, contraband cosmetics, and undeclared cocoa, intercepted during multiple operations this November.
In one of the key operations, URA officers stopped a vehicle that had been altered to hide goods.
“We discovered 10 jerrycans of cooking oil and 2 bags of rice, each weighing 25 Kgs inside this compartment,” an enforcement officer revealed.
The vehicle, registration UAG 116X, now faces a USD 5,000 fine under customs regulations.
Gordon Mutungi, the URA Supervisor of Enforcement in the Midwestern region, said their intelligence-driven methods are helping them stay ahead of smugglers.
He urged traders to avoid illegal routes, warning that the risks are too high.
“Instead of resorting to shortcuts, come to our offices for assistance,” he said.
URA has already begun the revenue recovery process.
