The Uganda Revenue Authority has launched one of its most significant anti-smuggling operations this year, arresting a suspected mastermind behind a well-organised illegal phone distribution network in downtown Kampala. The operation, conducted in the city’s busy electronics corridor, led to the confiscation of more than 4,300 mobile phones believed to have been secretly brought into the country without paying taxes.
Officials say the breakthrough marks a major step in dismantling smuggling networks that have been quietly feeding Kampala’s fast-growing phone market with untaxed, refurbished, and in some cases stolen devices.
According to enforcement teams, the suspect was tracked after weeks of surveillance around key hotspots stretching from Kampala Road to Luwum Street, an area known for its high traffic of electronic gadgets. URA officers say the intercepted consignment is expected to help recover at least Shs 500 million in unpaid taxes and penalties once all verifications are completed.
Authorities revealed that smugglers have adopted advanced tactics to bypass border checks and enforcement teams. Recent cases show phones being stuffed inside layers of clothing, squeezed into power bank covers, hidden in hollowed-out laptops, or transported in small portions by motorcycle riders weaving through Kampala’s congested streets. Others use long-distance buses to sneak shipments across districts, while coordinated groups engage in a technique URA calls “human warehousing,” where several individuals carry small batches before converging in the capital.
URA enforcement officer Alex Murungi said the operation sends a strong message to those undermining the tax system. He noted that smuggling networks are becoming more sophisticated, but the authority is intensifying efforts to clean up the market and protect both government revenue and consumers.
He emphasized that the circulation of illegal phones threatens legitimate importers who follow the law and leaves buyers exposed to poor-quality, counterfeit, or stolen devices that come with no warranty, no safety assurance, and no traceability.
During the inspection of the seized consignment, officers counted 4,371 mobile phones. These included basic Nokia models as well as high-demand Samsung Galaxy smartphones, many of which are believed to have entered Uganda through concealed routes.
URA says it is now strengthening border tracking systems, improving tax procedures, and investing in advanced technology to keep ahead of increasingly tech-savvy smuggling rings. Officials added that more raids are expected in major urban centres as the authority moves to restore fairness in the market and safeguard national revenue.
The arrest and seizure mark a fresh warning to traders dealing in untaxed electronics that enforcement is tightening and violators will face serious consequences.