Uganda, May 22 -- Uganda, according to available data, loses billions to illicit trade. Outside terrorism, illicit trade is a major drag-on on the economy, impacting the country's manufacturing potential and tax revenue.

For instance, according to the Euromonitor Illicit Alcohol Trade report, in the alcohol sector alone, illicit alcohol trade was estimated to be worth $1.91b (Shs7.25 trillion) between 2017 and 2020, for which, government lost an average of $458m (Shs17.3b) in taxable revenue.

In the tobacco sector, estimates indicate Shs30b are lost annually to illicit trade, which therefore tells of a well-spread cancer that continues to be a challenge to specifically consumers, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and the government as...