A customs officer at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has uncovered $10.2 million (approximately Shs37 billion) concealed in a shipping container, in a major anti-smuggling breakthrough that has drawn national attention.
The officer, Enid Priscilla Katusiime, made the discovery during a routine inspection at a customs checkpoint after a container declared as personal effects arrived from Turkey.
According to URA, the cash “packed in $100 notes” was hidden in four boxes inside the container. Katusiime said her suspicions were raised during the inspection.
“I opened one box and found kitchenware, but upon opening the next one, I saw bundles of paper money,” she said.
She revealed that shortly after the discovery, a clearing agent attempted to persuade her not to report the matter and allegedly offered a bribe of Shs300 million.
“The agent tried to convince me not to escalate the matter, saying it was my chance to get rich,” she added.
Katusiime rejected the offer and immediately alerted her supervisors, leading to the detention of the clearing agent and the seizure of the cash.
URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki commended the officer for her integrity and professionalism, awarding her a certificate in recognition of her actions.
“Your firm resolve to uphold integrity despite pressure reflects a high standard of accountability that the institution embodies,” Rujoki said during the award ceremony.
He added that the interception underscores the effectiveness of URA’s new policy of mandatory physical cargo inspections, introduced to combat tax evasion and smuggling often disguised through falsified documentation.
“This is the kind of conduct we expect from all our officers,” he noted.
However, the discovery has also sparked public debate, with some observers questioning the origin and intended use of the money.
Journalist Sudhir Byaruhanga raised concerns on social media, asking key questions about the shipment, including its ownership, source, and the identity of those who attempted to clear it.
While many have praised the officer’s actions as a sign of growing accountability within the tax body, others have called for transparency in the ongoing investigations.
URA says inquiries are ongoing to establish the ownership of the cash and the circumstances under which it was being transported into the country.
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