By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan
The Uganda Revenue Authority has intercepted a pistol concealed in a passenger’s baggage at Entebbe International Airport.
URA Entebbe Non-Intrusive Inspection(NII) In-Charge, John Bosco Twesigye said that the scanner revealed the concealed pistol in baggage belonging to a passenger who had disembarked from a Kenya Airways plane on Sunday.
“On Sunday, November 03, 2024, a passenger aboard Kenya Airways, from Nairobi, arrived at Entebbe Airport at about 20:07hrs. The passenger had his accompanied baggage scanned at Customs and on analysis of the corresponding scanner images, it was established two of his bags contained an Air Pistol (Blow P29) and 50 rounds of ammunition,” said Twesigye.
He stated that the passenger had no relevant documents to support his possession of the pistol at the time of scanning. The suspect was handed over to aviation police for further interrogation.
Twesigye noted that firearms, ammunition and military stores are restricted items, and a passenger needs prior clearance from the Uganda Police before the importation of such.
In July this year, NII at Elegu exposed hidden ammunition on two individuals attempting to cross into Uganda from South Sudan.
These incidents highlight the pivotal role of URA’s non-intrusive inspection (NII) technology, which uses advanced X-ray scanners to scrutinize large volumes of cargo without the need for physical inspection. By leveraging these scanners, URA can expedite cargo processing while swiftly pinpointing concealed threats like firearms and illicit substances.
Equipped with Radiation Portal Monitors, the NII equipment plays a crucial role in fortifying Uganda’s defence against illicit radiation sources attempting to infiltrate national borders.
These developments underscore how advanced technology not only enhances operational efficiency but also plays a pivotal role in safeguarding national interests and securing borders against emerging threats.