Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement officers in Jinja intercepted an ambulance that was being used to smuggle Kitenge fabrics and head beanies under the pretense of a medical emergency.
The vehicle, registration number UBA 911M, was racing through the checkpoint with sirens blaring and the driver claiming to carry a critically ill patient. However, officers, acting on a tip-off and noticing irregularities, stopped the ambulance and discovered 700 pieces of Kitenge fabric and 388 head beanies hidden inside—no patient on board.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Group and Receive Daily News
In a statement shared on social media, URA condemned the abuse of emergency vehicles for illegal trade, stating:
“Whenever one sees an ambulance, the instinct is to make way for a life. The last thing anyone expects is for the ‘patient’ to be smuggled goods.”
The ambulance had taken an unusual route via Tororo–Namutumba–Iganga in an attempt to dodge enforcement, but it was intercepted at the vigilant Jinja checkpoint, a known hotspot for anti-smuggling operations along the Eastern corridor.
This bust adds to a series of recent smuggling crackdowns. Just weeks prior, the same URA team intercepted used smartphones and undocumented tyres being trafficked through different routes into the country.
An enforcement officer emphasized,
“Smugglers are getting bolder, but we’re staying alert. We’re committed to protecting Uganda’s economy and legal traders from these unlawful schemes.”
URA reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on smuggling, vowing to stay ahead of offenders—regardless of how creative or deceptive they become.
Also Read: Authorities Launch Investigations as Anthrax Kills Two in Kazo
