URA intercepts woman entering Uganda with pistol

Pistol concealed in luggage intercepted at Uganda-South Sudan border
46-year-old woman, Heba Youssef Taleldin Mahmoud, caught with hidden firearm
Advanced X-ray technology used to detect concealed pistol in baggage

The woman has been identified as Heba Youssef Taleldin Mahmoud, a 46-year-old of unnamed nationality.

According to URA Supervisor for the tax body’s Non-Intrusive Operations Field Operations, David Mugarra, the hidden firearm was discovered on July 8 at Elegu.

Non-intrusive X-ray Inspection is a modern method used in customs to screen imported or exported goods and passenger baggage without disrupting their integrity. This advanced technology uses X-rays to detect hidden items in goods, without the need to open or move them.

“On 8th July 2024, an event at the Elegu Border between Uganda and South Sudan captivated authorities as Heba was caught entering Uganda with a concealed pistol,” Mugarra explained.

URA Speaks

URA Supervisor Non-Intrusive CCTV Surveillance, SP Moses Sonko, stated that URA officials instructed Heba to place her baggage into the CT X-ray scanner. The detailed 3D X-ray image revealed the concealed weapon tacked in her belongings.

The 46-year-old has since been arrested and handed over to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) for further investigation.

In a related development, the Non-Intrusive Inspection machines recently netted an individual with ammunition attempting to cross into Uganda.

By leveraging these scanners, URA can expedite cargo processing while swiftly identifying concealed threats such as firearms and illicit substances.

In the fiscal year 2023/24, interventions facilitated by NII equipment led to the recovery of more than Shs218 billion through the detection of concealed, undeclared, and falsely declared dutiable goods.