URA Seizes 448 Smuggled Mobile Phones Worth Shs281 Million at Entebbe Airport
ENTEBBE, Uganda – The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intensified its crackdown on illicit trade after enforcement officers at Entebbe International Airport intercepted 448 mobile phones worth more than Shs281 million in a series of intelligence-led operations targeting smartphone smuggling networks.
The seizures, according to URA, expose increasingly sophisticated tactics being used by smugglers seeking to evade taxes and illegally import high-value electronic devices into the country.
Airport Cleaner Caught Hiding Smartphones
URA Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, Robert Kalumba, revealed that one of the operations uncovered an alleged insider smuggling scheme involving airport terminal cleaners.
According to Kalumba, enforcement officers became suspicious after observing a cleaner walking unusually while on duty.
“Inside a restroom, a cleaner received high-value smartphones and concealed 40 handsets in her underwear. Her stiff and unnatural walk attracted the attention of enforcement officers, who intercepted her and conducted a detailed search that uncovered all the hidden devices,” Kalumba said.
The discovery is part of a broader investigation into suspected networks operating within airport facilities to bypass customs and tax procedures.
URA Foils VIP Lounge Smuggling Scheme
In a separate operation, URA officers disrupted what authorities described as a sophisticated black-market smuggling ring allegedly using Entebbe Airport’s VIP facilities to avoid tax obligations.
Acting on intelligence reports, enforcement teams intercepted a traveller posing as a VIP passenger and searched the individual’s luggage.
The search resulted in the recovery of 60 high-end smartphones concealed inside luxury travel bags.
“Officers intercepted a traveller suspected of using the premium lounge to facilitate illegal imports. A thorough search uncovered dozens of high-value smartphones, effectively dismantling the scheme,” Kalumba said.
Growing Concern Over Smartphone Smuggling
URA says smartphone smuggling remains one of the fastest-growing forms of illicit trade in Uganda, depriving the government of significant tax revenue and creating unfair competition for compliant businesses.
The authority has vowed to strengthen surveillance and enforcement measures at all border entry points, including airports, to combat tax evasion and illegal imports.
Commissioner General Urges Tax Compliance
Meanwhile, URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi has encouraged taxpayers to take advantage of the authority’s ongoing tax waiver programme instead of engaging in smuggling activities.
The initiative offers a 100 percent waiver on accumulated interest and penalties for taxpayers who clear all outstanding principal domestic taxes incurred up to June 30, 2024. Eligible taxpayers must settle the principal tax by June 30, 2026 to benefit from the amnesty.
Musinguzi said the programme presents an opportunity for individuals and businesses to regularize their tax obligations while contributing to national revenue collection.
“We encourage taxpayers to embrace compliance and utilize the tax waiver programme rather than resorting to illegal practices that undermine economic growth and government revenue,” he said.
URA Intensifies Anti-Smuggling Operations
The latest seizures underscore URA’s ongoing commitment to combating smuggling and protecting government revenue. Authorities have warned that anyone found involved in illegal importation schemes will face legal action under Uganda’s customs and tax laws.
