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URA now to deploy drones in smuggling fight

Peter 9th May, 2024 Economy Pedson Mumbere
URA now to deploy drones in smuggling fight

Some of the smuggled goods that were recovered in the operation.


The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has said they are to invest in surveillance drones at porous border points in an effort to curb the vice of smuggling.

This follows an URA enforcement operation that intercepted a group of men smuggling cooking oil and assorted food items at Alinyapi near Nimule-Elegu Border Post in Amuru District.

Taking advantage of the rise in River Nile water levels that had forced the URA enforcement team to halt monitoring the route, the men tied the jerry cans full of cooking oil as well as an assortment of rice, soap, and sugar wrapped in polythene sheets and pulling them across the river.

  • URA spokesman Ibrahim Bbosa said the operation recovered 1,340 litres of cooking oil, 1,000 litres of petrol, 500 pieces of soap, 125kgs of brown sugar, and 600 packets of spaghetti.

Additionally, the eight motorcycles that were being used to carry the goods were impounded. According to the law, smuggling is a serious offence and vehicles that are used in smuggling are forfeited to the State and are supposed to be auctioned.

Bossa said in an effort to close all the loopholes particularly along porous borders, the tax body is to invest in surveillance drones to protect tax revenue collection and create a levelled marketplace for tax-compliant traders.

  • According to data from URA, during the period of July to March of the FY 2021/22 over UGX70 billion was recovered from 5,748 seizures ranging from textiles, contraband cosmetics, rice, and fuel among others.

URA currently has more than 27 cargo scanners as part of non-intrusive screening efforts at official border crossings, which has helped to deter the vice at the official crossing points.

Whereas the deployment of various intelligence measures like informers had helped to curb the vice through non-gazetted crossing points, smugglers still sneak into the country with contraband goods worth millions of shillings.

The most-smuggled products into Uganda include fuel, electronics such as smartphones, alcohol and tobacco, and foodstuffs such as rice and cooking oil.

URA is keen on curtailing smuggling as the vice can have several negative impacts on the economy including loss of revenue for the government, which could otherwise be used for public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.

  • Additionally, it distorts markets by creating an uneven playing field for businesses operating legally within Uganda. It can lead to unfair competition, as smuggled goods may be sold at lower prices due to the avoidance of taxes and tariffs. This can harm local industries and businesses, leading to job losses and reduced economic growth.
  • The vice is also known to have social costs, such as facilitating organized crime, endangering the population by supplying counterfeit, substandard or hazardous products as well as contributing to environmental degradation.

URA insists that Uganda has porous borders with countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo and South Sudan and addressing the vice of smuggling would necessitate enhanced border security measures including aerial surveillance using drones.

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