A vehicle allegedly belonging to URA officials was set on fire by angry residents in Manafwa District on May 8, 2025. Photo/Courtesy
A violent confrontation in Manafwa District, Eastern Uganda, turned deadly on Thursday, May 9, when Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement officers clashed with suspected smugglers. The incident left one civilian dead and a URA vehicle burned, escalating tensions in the border region.
According to police reports, the URA team—consisting of Nixon Twinamasiko, Moreen Waseme, Zakia Kalungi, and an unidentified officer—was traveling in a white Toyota Vitz (registration number UA 902 AQ) when they intercepted a smuggler transporting Kenyan wheat flour near the Mbale-Lwakhakha road. As the officers attempted to leave the area, they were pursued by a group of smugglers on motorcycles. The situation quickly spiraled out of control when a mob joined in, hurling stones at the URA vehicle.
Amid the chaos, gunfire erupted, fatally striking 30-year-old Brian Mukoni, a local peasant from Butingu Village. Authorities have not yet determined which officer fired the fatal shot. Several URA personnel managed to flee, with Moreen Waseme seeking refuge at Butiru Police Station. The mob later set the URA vehicle ablaze, leaving it completely destroyed.
Rogers Taitika, the Elgon region police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is underway. The clash highlights the ongoing tensions between enforcement agencies and smugglers along the Uganda-Kenya border, where illegal trade remains a persistent challenge.
Local residents described scenes of panic as the confrontation unfolded, with some witnesses unable to confirm who initiated the violence. Community leaders have called for calm while demanding justice for Mukoni’s death. Meanwhile, the URA has vowed to continue its crackdown on smuggling operations, despite the risks posed by such confrontations.
The incident raises questions about the use of force in anti-smuggling operations and the broader economic impact of cross-border illicit trade. As investigations proceed, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure accountability while maintaining security in the region.
This is so bad