URA Seizes Smuggled Rice Worth UGX 5.7 Million Hidden in Corn Cobs

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intercepted a consignment of smuggled rice that had been cleverly concealed inside sacks of corn cobs during an enforcement operation in Kaliat, Malaba, Tororo District.

According to URA, the operation was launched after officers received credible intelligence from an informant about suspected smuggled goods being prepared for transportation across the border.

Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs Robert Kalumba said smugglers had devised a new concealment method by packing bags of rice together with corn cobs inside large sacks to disguise the shipment and avoid detection by customs officials.

“The enforcement team recovered a consignment of rice that had been hidden in preparation for transportation. Smugglers are placing bags of rice and corn cobs inside one large sack, a deliberate tactic intended to conceal the true contents of the cargo and evade customs controls,” Kalumba said.

Following verification, officers established that the consignment contained 31 bags of Sana Long Grain Parboiled Rice, each weighing 25 kilograms, with a combined weight of 775 kilograms.

URA said 25 of the bags originated from Pakistan, while the remaining six were imported from India. The seized consignment is estimated to be worth approximately UGX 5.7 million.

Kalumba noted that while URA continues to strengthen border surveillance, smugglers are becoming increasingly innovative in their attempts to bypass customs enforcement.

“As we improve our surveillance systems, smugglers are also developing more sophisticated concealment methods to evade detection,” he said.

He praised the enforcement officers involved in the operation, saying the seizure demonstrated the importance of timely intelligence in disrupting illegal trade.

“The success of this operation shows that credible intelligence, coupled with a rapid operational response, remains one of the most effective tools in dismantling smuggling networks and protecting government revenue,” Kalumba added.

The rice seizure comes just weeks after a joint operation by the URA and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) recovered 100 jerrycans and an additional 20 litres of smuggled ethanol.

According to URA, that operation followed reports of theft involving neutral spirit and other goods that were being transported from Ntoroko Border Post to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kalumba said enforcement teams have since intensified intelligence gathering in the border areas of Kanara, Rwebisengo, Rwangara and Kayanja to identify the individuals behind the smuggling syndicates, map their routes and dismantle their operations.

The ethanol consignment was intercepted on July 3, 2026, with support from the UPDF and other security agencies, and the matter remains under investigation.

URA has repeatedly warned that smuggling through Uganda’s porous borders, particularly across Lake Victoria and Lake Albert, continues to deprive the country of significant tax revenue while undermining legitimate businesses.

Commissioner General John Musinguzi recently said illegal trade weakens the economy by denying the government resources needed to finance essential public services and national development.

To strengthen enforcement, URA has deployed high-speed patrol boats to monitor Lake Victoria, Lake Albert and the River Nile, areas that authorities say have increasingly become major routes for smuggling.

The tax authority says the expanded marine enforcement strategy is part of broader efforts to adopt modern tools and intelligence-led operations to combat cross-border crime while creating a fair trading environment for compliant businesses.