By Spy Uganda
Following continuous smuggling syndicates in Jinja, the Jinja enforcement team deployed widely and seized substantial quantities of Kay Salt. The operation intensified following intelligence reports, is part of an ongoing crackdown on illicit trade to ensure that all goods entering the market adhere to tax requirements.
Acting on a tip-off, the team intercepted a truck, UAM803S, loaded with 12 tons of Kay Salt and 1.2 tons of rice. The seizure was followed by a series of targeted operations, resulting in the impounding of:
– 12 tons of Kay Salt from Kenya
– 19 sacks (40kg each) of Basmati rice
– 8 cartons of Fruit cordial juice from UAE
– 2 cartons of Baby cola shampoo from UAE
– 2 cartons of Body scrub from UAE
– 3 cartons of White oats from UAE
– 2 bags (25kg each) of Bahraf rice
– 5 bags (25kg each) of Sana Rice
– 23 bags (5kg each) of Hilal Basmati Rice
– 8 bags (10kg each) of Hilal/Mahamood Basmati rice
This operation demonstrates the team’s commitment to curb smuggling activities undermining local economies and regulatory frameworks. URA says currently, offense management is ongoing, with further investigations and prosecutions expected to follow.
Kay Salt is among the top commodities largely smuggled even with the inscription ‘FOR SALE IN KENYA ONLY’. Its smuggling is common in the Uganda-Kenya border towns of Busia and Malaba as it is practised by the seemingly innocent women, disabled persons and children who are paid to do that by rich traders and later after passing the border, this salt is loaded on trucks to Kampala and other parts of the country.
Smugglers Cough Heavily Once Captured!
In an exclusive interview last month with our chief Spy Andrew Irumba Paul Karatunga the Supervisor of Customs Enforcement in Eastern Uganda, revealed that once captured smuggling, the importer is slapped with a 50% surcharge, triple the price one pays legally. “We Charge shs440 per Kg of salt, but when we arrest you with illegal entry, you’re charged shs 1600 per Kg. We also charge the carrier/conveyor (means of transport). And we can charge up to USD 10000.”
He said, for instance, in July 2024, 11 tones of smuggled goods were seized which ‘manufactured’ Ugx16m as penalties.
Further, URA statistics revealed that from January to May 2024, 4643 interceptions were made on smugglers and Ugx7B was paid as penalty fees. This, Karatunga said was data for the Eastern axis i.e Malaba, Busia,Rwakhakha, Busitema, Mbale and Amdat (Karamoja) border points only.
Also, the Authority from June to July made 1733 interceptions against smugglers and Ugx2.71B was recovered as penalties.Â
