By Frank Kamuntu
URA last weekend successfully intercepted an operation of a cement smuggler who had dodged the official check points to get to Kampala through the Isimba bridge.
The team on ground immediately deployed and laid several traps in nearby villages to have the smuggler netted.
“After some good hours of waiting, two trucks [UBL 284Y, UBN 498G] appeared staggering on a slippery road. We intercepted them and delivered them to our offices in Iganga for further offence management,” explained Winfred K Kusiima, one of the officers who was part of the operation.
Despite continuous smuggling of different items, URA has intensified intelligence guided operations leveraging the use of Non-Intrusive Inspection technology at the border points and field intelligence enforcement operations. URA is also intensifying tax education awareness, especially on the dangers of smuggling to the individual, the community and the economy.
URA is also utilizing the Digital Tracking Solution to net illegitimate trade like these smuggled bags cement.
According to Robert Amanya, the Ag. Manager DTS all the manufacturers of gazetted products like cement that have been found selling un stamped goods have been penalized not less than UGX 50 million to have their goods released.
“We always engage them[manufacturers], listen to them and sign agreements before penalizing. Those that continuously don’t comply, we go ahead and prosecute them,” Amanya explained on failure to comply with DTS.
DTS in the long run is expected to curb illicit trade and substandard goods thus protecting legitimate local manufacturers against the trade in illicit and counterfeit products.
The general public is therefore encouraged to exhibit patriotism by reporting all suspicious trade practices for the good of protecting society and legitimate trade of manufacturers.
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