Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) exposed a growing network of highly coordinated smuggling operations following the arrest of a key suspect linked to illicit smartphone trade in downtown Kampala on Thursday 27th November 2025.
The suspect (names withheld) was apprehended during a targeted enforcement sweep that seized 4,371 illegally imported mobile phones, including popular Nokia and Samsung models.
In a statement on X, on November 28th, 2025, URA estimates that the operation could recover over Shs500 million in taxes and penalties once investigations are concluded.
According to URA, smartphone smugglers now rely on increasingly creative concealment techniques ranging from hiding phones in clothing layers and hollowed-out laptops to disguising them inside power bank casings.
“Enforcement teams have also tracked the use of long-distance buses as mobile storage units, enabling smugglers to shift consignments across regions undetected,” URA said on X.
According to Alex Murungi, one of the senior offices at URA, these are not random methods but deliberate strategies developed to beat the systems however as transformational warriors, URA is adapting just as fast.
“We shall not drop the baton until this market is free of illicit traders,” Murungi said.
The illegal phone trade, which heavily targets the Kampala Road Luwum Street electronics corridor, has contributed to a surge of suspiciously cheap smartphones on the market often appearing before official distributors declaring new stock.
“With every operation, we learn, we adjust, and we grow smarter. This is a long fight, but we are prepared for it,” Murungi added.
URA warns that the trade not only robs government of vital revenue but also exposes consumers to stolen or counterfeit gadgets lacking warranties or safety assurances.
