By: Melanie Aanyu

Police in Greater Masaka are holding a UPDF soldier attached to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement team after he allegedly shot dead a trader suspected of smuggling merchandise into the country.

The suspect in police custody is a Corporal attached to the URA Masaka branch enforcement unit and has been working with the Authority for the last 18 months.

He reportedly shot and killed Frank Kakuba, 38, who was allegedly flagged down but unheeded.

Exhibits at Rakai Police Station suggest that Kakuba was gunned down after he was caught with 80 boxes of banned “cancer -causing cosmetics in his car” which URA alleges were smuggled from neighbouring Tanzania.

The incident happened at Kirindamariga trading centre in Rakai District along the Lumbuggu –Lwamagga Road.

Mr Joshua Kananura, the Rakai District Police commander confirmed the arrest but declined to divulge the details.

URA spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Bbosa described the incident as regrettable.