URA officials are on the hunt for a mysterious passenger who was intercepted at the Jinja Nile bridge check point while attempting to smuggle Shs 65 million into the country. This was during a routine inspection of vehicles heading to Kampala City when they stopped a taxi coming from Busia. The passenger appearing tense and uncomfortable was asked to open his suspiciously packaged “usofia” sack.

Upon inspection, the sack contained 30 bundles of neatly packed counterfeit Shs 5,000 notes, totaling Shs 65 million. However, before the officers could further investigate, the passenger vanished into the morning darkness.

This incident echoes a previous case in March 2023, where URA intercepted three suspects attempting to smuggle Shs 40 million in counterfeit Ugandan currency into Uganda aboard a Modern Coast bus.

The second schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004 as amended, prohibits importation or carriage of false money and counterfeit currency notes and coins and any money not being of the established standard in weight or fineness.

Furthermore, the law on prohibited goods provides for a fine of 50% of the value of items and in case of counterfeit notes, the penalty is imprisonment for the suspect.

Investigations are underway as URA, together with the law officers venture into identifying the suspect and the motive for this move.

URA remains vigilant in combating tax evasion and counterfeiting ensuring compliance with tax regulations and protecting Uganda’s economy.