Koboko hospital ambulance seized in Pakwach with smuggled cigarettes 

Nobert Abukuwa, the driver of an ambulance belonging to Koboko hospital has been arrested for smuggling cigarettes.

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement team at Pakwach checkpoint impounded an ambulance, a Toyota Land Cruiser, registration number, UBD 512X was seized with 16 sacks of Super-Match cigarettes at around 3:00 am on Sunday in Pakwach district.

URA manager for northern Uganda Sylvester Kiwanuka confirmed the incident, stating that the driver, along with the impounded vehicle, has been transferred to Kampala, where he is expected to appear in court.

“It’s true; our officers intercepted the ambulance in Pakwach. The driver and the vehicle are now in Nakawa,” he said.

Preliminary reports indicate that the vehicle, which originated from Koboko town, was heading to Gulu to deliver the smuggled goods. It is alleged that the driver conspired with a soldier attached to Koboko barracks, whose name has been withheld for security reasons, to transport the smuggled goods to Gulu. 

Ashraf Mambo, Koboko district LC V chairperson, condemned the driver’s actions, accusing him of using the vehicle without permission of the medical superintendent of Koboko hospital.

“The driver under question was off duty at the time when he picked the ambulance…In his own thoughts, he connived with some businesspeople and went off with the ambulance with counter-banned cigarettes on that wee night. And when we investigated, the ambulance left the hospital without any authority,” said Mambo.

According to Mambo, he has already instructed the chief administrative officer (CAO), John Bosco Akera, to initiate disciplinary action against the errant driver. Michael Ajule, the North Division councilor said that the impounded ambulance was donated to the district by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for refugee health emergencies and referrals. He noted that this is the second time ambulances donated to the district for service delivery have been misused.

Juma Mawa, Dranya sub-county councilor stated that the council has called for thorough investigations into the matter to address such issues in the future. For decades, the West Nile region has been a hotspot for smuggling activities, which local leaders attribute to the numerous porous border entry points. 

According to information from URA, Uganda loses an estimated Shs 5 billion annually through smuggling.