Luke Kagiri
8 November 2009
Kampala — THE Uganda Revenue Authority has identified the Kasese-Fort Portal-Kampala highway as a major route for illicit trade.
Stephen Kimpwedde, a supervisor in customs enforcement for the central region, said the main goods include Nido powder milk, polythene bags, cosmetics, and dry cells.
"These illegal traders use saloon cars to ferry their goods. Cars like the ST 1900, Toyota Premios and Coronas are the popular ones. We have already impounded two vehicles bringing in goods from Bwera (Kasese in western Uganda)," he said.
Kimpwedde was addressing law enforcement officers at New Highway hotel in Mityana at a one-day meeting on illicit trade in Uganda.
Most of the illegal goods are sold off in Fort Portal, Kyenjojo, Mubende and Mityana. What remains is what is sold in Kampala, he added.
Kimpwedde called upon Ugandans to get rid of illicit trade, saying it is causing loss of revenue to the country.
"Our appeal is to work together with stakeholders to fight the vice. It is causing a loss of revenue and alot of insecurity. It is harmful to the lives of the Ugandans," he said.
He warned that the customs laws were effective and called for the Judiciary to use them accordingly by punishing the culprits with strong penalties.
The meeting, organised by the British American Tobacco, attracted over 50 participants from the Uganda Police Force, the justice, law and order sector and several other stakeholders.
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