An ambulance posing as a medical emergency vehicle was intercepted by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement officers in Jinja while smuggling 700 pieces of cotton Kitenge fabrics and 388 head beanies into the country.
The dramatic sting occurred on Sunday when the ambulance—registration number UBA 911M—approached the Jinja checkpoint with sirens blaring and lights flashing.
The driver, in full performance, pleaded with officers to allow urgent passage, claiming a critical patient was onboard.
But URA officers, already acting on a tip-off and suspicious of the vehicle’s erratic route through the Tororo-Namutumba-Iganga road, decided to investigate.
Instead of finding a patient, they uncovered heaps of smuggled textiles tightly packed under blankets and stretchers.
Faking Emergencies to Smuggle Contraband
In a statement, URA expressed shock and disappointment at the blatant abuse of a vehicle meant to save lives.
“Whenever one sees an ambulance, the fear for the worst kicks in… The last thing on anyone’s mind is the possibility of that ‘patient’ being a stash of smuggled goods,” URA said.
The Jinja enforcement team, known for tackling contraband along the Eastern corridor, had been tracking the vehicle due to its attempt to avoid standard routes.
“The audacity of smugglers continues to surprise us, but our commitment to safeguard Uganda’s economy remains undeterred,” a URA officer commented.
Jinja: A Frontline in Uganda’s Anti-Smuggling Fight
The Jinja checkpoint has become a vital control point for curbing illegal trade, similar to URA’s northern outpost in Pakwach.
This latest bust follows a series of other successful enforcement operations in the region. Just weeks earlier, URA intercepted two separate consignments of smuggled used smartphones—one hidden in the back of a car near Mbale Bridge, and another carried by a passenger in a small bag.
In total, 298 used smartphones were seized.
Some phones even rang during interrogation, raising red flags about the network of accomplices trying to recover their goods.
URA has also impounded 20 undocumented Ling Long tyres of various sizes and origins, in yet another attempt to sneak unregistered goods into the country.
URA: No Tolerance for Creative Smuggling
URA has vowed to remain vigilant, no matter how creative or daring the smuggling attempts may become.
“Using ambulances—symbols of hope and emergency—as a disguise for smuggling is a new low,” the agency remarked.
The intercepted Kitenge fabrics and head beanies were destined for Kampala, where they would have entered the market without paying taxes or meeting import regulations.
URA continues to call on the public to report suspicious vehicles and trade practices, and reminds smugglers that no disguise will outsmart a committed enforcement team.
