Social Media Tax: The Breakdown of the Key Statements from the Hansard of 30th May 2018!

Joshua Anywarach:

Mr Speaker, for heaven’s sake, anywhere in the world – if anything can be cheaper and spur economic development, it is communication (Hansard, 30.05.2018).

This is weird, but not surprising, it is striking that these quotes has not been in the spotlight more. As the Exercise Duty, which was passed on the 30th May 2018. This after just two barely months of digging into the costs, added revenue and even making it possible. This was a hasted taxes of the public. Where the added costs was not put in perspective. There was talk about the poor and the regions without banks, but not like the National Resistance Movement (NRM) cares, because you don’t have to use Mobile Money, you can send the money by donkeys for free. However, the Western Union isn’t having the donkey express anymore, even the NRM will go back-to-future with these taxes. Making sure the Social Media is silenced and costing even more for people to be involved online.

Silas Aogon, who was against said this:

Mr Chairperson, without the bundles that we buy, we cannot access WhatsApp. I know that very well. You have got to have mobile money and then you can use it to buy Megabytes (MBs) before you can access WhatsApp. How do you tax what has already been taxed? That is the issue. If you doubt what we are saying, let us then do some practicals here and then you will see” (Hansard, 30.05.2018).

That is just barely the ones speaking against Social Media Tax before the passing of the bill. However, there was more NRM MPs, who was defending it. These should be remembered, because they are silencing the poorest, because of revenue and because of their reckless spending on themselves. They added perks and salaries, are paid by the hardships of people, who will be doubled taxed, not only on airtime and data-bundles, but now for using social media too. This because the state doesn’t care.

James Kakooza said:

This tax is optional; if you want you pay, if you don’t want you don’t pay. (Applause) That is what is under the law. That is the information I wanted to give” (Hansard, 30.05.2018).

It maybe partly optional, but people are used to WhatsApp, Facebook and other Apps for communications. Therefore, it isn’t that optional, except for the ones who are advanced age, like the President himself. Maybe Kakooza should delete his social media profiles and try to be optional outside of the online world.

David Bhati said:

If you are using WhatsApp or Viber, the Shs 200 which we are proposing here will actually translate to Shs 70,000 per year. That is what we are talking about. It is Shs 70,000 the entire year –(Interjections)– You are making a contribution of Shs 70,000 for the whole year; can you imagine! It is as simple as that” (Hansard, 30.05.2018).

It isn’t like your jumping in once and never again. Its very few who just are one day inside a social network or part of group talking on WhatsApp or Viber. They are there daily, because if your wanting to get information or be in communications with friends. You do it daily. Therefore, if your part of social interactions online, this is really just making sure the youths, ordinary people are taxed for interacting online. Soon, Bhati will send birds with messages and I am not talking Twitter. I am awaiting that. Since he can choose that without paying tax himself.

Robert Kasule Sebunya said:

We have a dilemma as technology is changing every day. People are no longer using the normal calls that Government has been taxing. Excise duty of 12 per cent has been paid per normal call. Now because technology is turning into voice messaging, WhatsApp calls and others, we are losing revenue. Even institutions are losing money on normal calls because people are changing as technology changes” (Hansard, 30.05.2018).

That the public has decided to call through the data-bundles are still taxed VAT and Income Tax, the Telecommunication Companies are taxed and so is the income of the agents selling the airtime and the data-bundles. Therefore, if anyone would call on WhatsApp or Viber, they are already paying tax. Now they just have a second wall of payment and securing the state, both for the nut and bolt, but also using the tool itself. So, he defends double taxation. Kudos!

Otto Odonga said:

I did economics at the university, mind you. (Laughter) WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook are ostentatious commodities. They are almost like perfume. The ordinary man in the village can do without it. (Applause) We are looking for a certain category of people who do not mind about the Shs 200. Personally, I do not mind because I need WhatsApp. It is a tax, which is targeting the elites – those who are ostentatious. It does not affect the ordinary man in Pader. That is the information I wanted to give” (Hansard, 30.05.2018).

You have so ancient relics, someone who is falling behind in times. I hope Mr. Otto is not on any Social Media, because his defense is a disgrace in 2018. That it is an extra service. It is true it is not like water and food, or even basic education. However, this is the way people communicate and have moved forwards too. That is why activists have groups on WhatsApp and Facebook, it is like the MP thinks it is only for Kololo and other high-rising neighborhoods in and around Kampala.

This is the look over the Hansard from 30th May 2018. That shows how some of the MPs thinks, this was only about the Social Media Tax, not the Mobile Money Tax or the Cooking Oil. Hope someone else dig into that. That would also deserve criticisms. Because the NRM is really using all tactics to defend the need for revenue, without seeing how they are misusing funds and also the grand-corruption that these funds are going too. Peace.

Opinion: The 200 Shillings of Doom!

There are many things to question in this day and age, especially on the day that Mobile Money Tax and Social Media Tax comes into affect. This is affecting a nation, a Republic and the people will feel this on their body. The costs of usage on the phones will sky-rocket, if not the usage of VPN will grow into huge proportions, like it did in the Social Media Blockage of 2016. When the state had to refund the Cellphone Companies and Mobile Money Networks for the closure during the final days of the General Elections in 2016. Those where the days for the National Resistance Movement (NRM). That is why they are trying to reinforce those and see if the people remember that.

The NRM have really brought the hen before the eggs. They have ushered in taxes, which haven’t been studied, neither proven any numbers of the supposed revenue. Never told or explained the public how these would be used or where the revenue is going. If these are going straight into a Presidential Handshake or another Presidential Jet. Who knows, but certainly not going to fix the schools of Iganga or Amuriat, no one would believe that at this point.

We know that the Godfrey Mutabazi the chairman of Uganda Communication Commission is working on the closure of the VPN services. That is to be expected, anyone to stop paying the taxes will be stopped, as the triggering of changes of IP Addresses will be illegal. No one shall be able to cross passed the taxed wall made by the NRM. This revenue is to important for the Republic. They need these funds to fund the SUVs, the raised salaries of the MPs and the other perks given to them. As well as the bloated budgets and travels of the President. He can spend money and borrow foreign cash like there is no tomorrow. While the poor is taxed more and more, to levels that stupid. Where every single piece of cash is going into tax and barely minimum will go back into the market. Meaning, the lack of power to buy anything will hit the market even more. They cannot afford to do anything, if they still want to be parts of society and in the digital age.

This is really a disgrace, but what sort of place Museveni is creating with his taxation of the OTT and the Telecommunication businesses. He is attacking the Social Media and the public discourse, by taxing it away from people, because many cannot afford or goes broke doing so. It is amazing how little of this has been put into discourse, haven’t even seen it in the editors comments on the online papers. None, or very little.

The President has with this and with his letter in March to the Finance Minister done a heist. A public heist, he is now altering the poorest people away from the Mobile Money, also making them find ways to not pay Social Media Taxes, plus the other fees that are with the usage, since the companies are already earning fortunes on the spending of the public. Not like MTN, Airtel or anyone else is loosing money on the public use of cellphones. They were already getting fees for the transactions and also the fees on the data-bundles and airtime. Therefore, the industry was taxed on the usage, but now the double tax is in effect. Because Museveni doesn’t care about his people.

That is why this is happening, 200 shillings of doom. The drones and clones, the phones are so taxed to maxed, that it is to fax and doing jumping jacks. Not buy e-books, but paperbacks. Peace.

Social Media Tax: Taxes directly on Cellphone services is now a reality!

The Social Media Tax and the Over The Top Taxes, this meaning all the services on the Social Media cost 200,- shillings per day, which means 6000 shillings a month and also 1 % on each transaction by the Mobile Money Transfer. This have been messaged by the government and by the Telecommunication Companies. We even know that by yesterday, the MTN sent messages to their costumers stopping the possibility of their lowest data-bundle. Which cost 250, shillings. Because the least cost now with added tax must be 400,- shillings or so. Since they have to add in the new tax and the usage itself.

That means that the data-bundle will be more expensive now and people have to buy bigger. Because the state will sooner or later see the ones using VPN or other methods of tricking the IP addresses and whatnot. Since, not everyone can afford this. They are shielding the poor people from paying the new taxes and using the services. Over time the voices on social media will go down, even the lack of transactions through the Mobile Money Networks. That is ironic, as the state has tried to push this up-country and even in Northern Uganda. Where there are lack of ATMs and even Bank Offices. Therefore, the attack and add of taxes on these services will just be new add of hardships for plenty.

Clearly, there are many who has complied, who has paid the direct 200 shillings for the social media tax, if you paid that with mobile money, you would pay another 1 % of the transaction fee of 2 shillings on the Mobile Money. That means the total tax is 202 shillings. That before you start using the cellphone or any of the other services on the phones.

This is really insulting to the poor and the low-level employees, whose salary is down to 21,000 shillings or close to 31,000 shillings a months. That means that with the 6000 shillings each month, they would spend ruffly close to 9,7000 on the lowest data-bundle and Air-Time package. This is through Twaweza published on the 7th June 2018. Meaning the lowest salary is close to half and one third of the second lowest level of public salaries. This being U8 Local Government Employee and U7 Primary School Teachers, whose being hit hard. That not being random hawkers or unemployed who are living from hand-to-mouth. They cannot even see the Social Media already as it is, and will be shut out of the public conversation online. This is really making sure the elite are online, while the rest barely get to be a part of the discussion online.

This is really assaulting free-speech and the ability for the poor to be part of the conversation and be part of social media interactions, as well as usage of the Mobile Money transactions. Since all of this is adding costs and making sure the data-bundles and Air-Time will be more costly.

That the Members of Parliament voted and accepted this after the President wrote a letter to the Finance Minister on “social gossip” online and wanted to tax the OTT Service in 12th March 2018 and on 30th May 2018 voted in Parliament. That is how the Excise Duty was levied on the public. While it is starting today on the 1st July 2018. That means, the proposed taxes of April 2018 and put into affect now. Therefore, the public should have known about it. There are other new taxes, which is not on the cellphone, but that deserves to be taken separately.

What is weird about it all, the Twaweza study of the numbers was more vital for the ordinary person, than the Parliament report, which was focused on added revenue, not expressing how it would hit the public. Which for me is weird, as the MPs are supposed to work for the public and serve them. Not just add taxes. Peace.

Opinion: OVP Robredo cannot the filing options for travel expenditure, isn’t that weird?

Newly elected Philippine Vice-President Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo delivers a speech after taking her oath during an inauguration ceremony in Quezon city, metro Manila, Philippines June 30, 2016. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Well, it is just me, but I am not surprised anymore, but the Office of the Vice President Leni Robredo had first in 2016, under used funds, but in 2017, the same office cannot deliver the supporting documents in time. That is just weird, as this is the next-highest public office under the President. It isn’t merely public servants in a get-away and remote island dozens of miles away from Manila. No, this is one of the highest regarding places close to the Malacañang. Therefore, that this office is under scrutiny for their practices are not a good look.

MANILA – The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged cash advances for local travels made by personnel of the office of Vice President Leni Robredo that were not liquidated within 30 days. In its annual audit report on the Office of the Vice President, the COA said traveling expenses of the agency amounted to P26.446 million for local travel and P953,550.75 for foreign trips in 2017. Delays in liquidation ranged from two days to 116 days” (Ayalin, 2018).

It is hard to believe that the OVP employees and secretaries, public officials in general are that lax with recites and with transactions papers, that they are losing it or forgetting to fill the forms for 116 days. They just don’t do that, unless it is deliberate. You don’t wait months upon months to deliver what your obligated to deliver. That is what you do in a public office and to prove your spending of the state coffers. That is all natural. Unless, you want to hide your spending and usage of the funds. Since using up to 116 to show where the money is spent is ruthless at best.

That VP Robredo should feel ashamed, she should, as her office is not following standard practice. Even if they might have cleared the accounts and the funds, that has been in question. Still, it opens up a huge level of doubts and possible misuse of state funds. Because, if the employees and the officials within the office are using so long to fill the forms and prove the spending. Than, in practice, it can go to mistresses, to pay for businesses or even perks beside the offices. Who knows right? They might spend it elsewhere and not on local travel as part of the job. Since the proof of that is coming months later and are later proven.

At this point, when the COA can find this maladministration and this lack of compliance with the codes of conduct as public servants/officials, you know there are underlying problems and somewhat something else beneath numbers. If there was even more to question, it should be digging into as well. Since these offices could be doing more with the funds they are getting. This is just the travel expenses and the advanced payouts, what about the salaries itself or the other perks as the high office it is?

That should be real question and since the COA is flagging it and the OVP says they have complied. Why should COA not have the proof of the real transactions, while the OVP trying to clean their hand of dirt? They have already not complied and not shown character, they are already proving lack of trust and lack of care for public funds. Peace.

Reference:

Ayalin, Adrian – ‘COA flags delayed liquidation of OVP cash advances; Robredo’s office says amounts ‘fully liquidated’’ (29.06.2018) link: http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/29/18/coa-flags-delayed-liquidation-of-ovp-cash-advances-robredos-office-says-amounts-fully-liquidated

Toyota explains the Trump Administration: How damaging the tariffs are on the Auto Industry!

Just as the letter is leaked from Stephen Ciccone, Group Vice President of Government Affairs within the Toyota Motor North America INC, who had written this leaked letter to the Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. Who has defended the tariffs on steel and aluminum, which has been on the European Union and NAFTA trading partners.

The reason why this letter is interesting, is because what he reveals, that the Government and Trump Administration will not reveal. The cost of the tariffs will be in jobs in the United States and also for the consumers. The most popular car produced by Toyota, the Toyota Camry with 30 % Foreign Parts, will be costing $ 1,800 more. The company has translated the cost, if the companies put the cost and compensation on the consumers. It would be 25%, an estimated loss of sales because of it could be up 2 million units or 10 % annually. If these numbers are true, than the Trump Administration are not only destroying imports, but local production and car-sales in general. That all because of the tariffs on these set-fixated goods, which is used to produce cars.

Therefore, these tariffs made are directly as the Toyota Company in the United States through the whole chain from factory to the consumer are around 470,000 people hired through the chain. While the manufacturing piece alone is 137,000 in 10 factories (soon 11). They are in Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Texas, California, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Michigan and West Virginia. So it is not like this is just hitting the favorable blue-states, which the Republicans hate. This would hit in the middle of the rust-belts and heartland f the Trump Voter.

Toyota Motor has really put themselves strategically in the United States, as well as put themselves in the midst of ironic territory. As they are in the areas where the President got the most support and also has the strongest loyalty, even as they are not serving the principals of the trade. The cost will be taken by the same people who voted him in and the added cost will be on the voters themselves. Either in lose of jobs in manufacturing, if not in lack of sales as people cannot afford to buy as many cars as they could before. That is not weird as the wages in the United States has been stagnant for so long. Therefore, the rise of prices combined with lack of surging wages, they cannot manage to afford the luxury of new cars, even used ones.

Just imagine the sudden rise of 25% on each imported car and also close to 2 Grands more expensive Camry. That will be costly for plenty of people. That is not mere cents on the can of beans as Wilbur Ross did on TV after the tariffs was made public. This here is much more costly and actually affect as many as 470,000 people in the United States. That is only in Toyota, what about the all American General Motors or FORD? Who knows how they will be hurt or how much added cost this will have on the consumer? Even how many people in their production chain from manufacturing to the consumer will be hurt by these efforts made by the state?

If Toyota is sending this warning and show the real affects on the economy by doing so. In just one company, what will it do to the whole industry and also the possible outcome of the provisions made by the tariff. That should be striking, but wisdom is rare in this administration. They are not concern with other, than their own pride and deluded acts of ignorance. This is destroying industry, not creating or salvaging anything.

Toyota is sending a signal to the Trump Administration, but will they care? No they won’t, unless they are Russian Oligarchs or Putin’s henchmen in the US. Peace.

Uganda – Public Notice: OTT Tax (29.06.2018)

More Musevenisms as the cronyism is real!

Danger, danger, be alert, this here will be sinful text. As the sins of the minds and spirit is shown again and again. By the same system and the same lord, nothing is changing only the names on the boards and on the appointments, but the same insignificant attributes continues. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has during the last appointed and re-appointed twice Residential District Commanders, he has also redirected appointments directly at Makerere University and to top it off, he has sacked and re-appointed a Executive Director and board for Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). All of these within days.

What is striking is how the State House is all involved in these matters, how connected the actions of the President and his will is the main factor in the decision made by the state. The government is de facto the President, we all knew this, but with the RDCs, UIA and Makerere, the Ministers and the Ministries, the experts and whatnot’s all have to wait for the blessing from Museveni.

It isn’t weird things are going slow, as the rubber-stamping son-of-a-gun in Entebbe has to deliver the verdict and put his seal on the matter, as he has to validate and secure every single appointment, even the janitors are surely hand-picked by the President. This is the proof of cronyism if there ever is one. The way he has to single-handedly decide and give people merits. After a month of speculation and a claim from Hon. Evelyn Anite that the Executive Director of UIA was corrupt and now the President has re-appointed someone else, while the former ED is challenging the merits of the case. It is really astonishing.

Just like the one day, a new batch of appointments and redeployment of RDCs came about, a day later revealed that some had been dead, one all the way back to 2014. Therefore, kind of hard to be a RDC when your deceased. That is why, on the 15th June 2018 the new list came into circulation and people started to speculate. However, by 24th June 2018, the RDCs fraternity had to be calm down await new orders, as the list was changed and by 25th June 2018, Uganda Media Centre had to write similar to calm it down. It just shows the madness in system and the erratic behaviour has consequences on the ground.

Jolly Kaguhangire, the now former ED of UIA is the crown-example of cronyism in the time of Museveni. The relative of the First Lady Janet Museveni. Who has been the ED since 2017 and now fired in mid-2018. Certainly, the stand-off, the whistleblower to the IGG and the whole farce will continue and persist as the family squabble will hit the headlines. There aren’t anything, which that will stop that at this point. The UIA is used as pawn in a game and the reality is that the Musevenism is the end-game.

This here will not end with the squabble between the board of directors, neither the IGG or even the Minister Anite who has used her role as the one with oversight to look into the activity of the UIA. But this will end with either ruthless activity, re-appointment or even being posted somewhere else, the ED of UIA is a family member, she will in the end be shielded. However, this shows why the family sagas and the interference are dropping the level of integrity and transparency, as they are obliged to be in-charge. Not on merits or skills, but because of their entitlement to the first family.

This is cronyism at its worst, where the ones either in family or loyal to the President get favours, either as RDCs or as Executive Director of some sort of government Authority. It is just a play of games with the taxpayers, with the citizens and the ones hurt is the innocent, while the elites created by the President continues to merge and surge. There isn’t anything that they will not do to get the cash-in-full. Peace.

Museveni statement: Confusion at the Uganda Investment Authority (28.06.2018)

Uganda: Public Notice of Proposed Taxes on Telecommunication Services (27.06.2018)

Opinion: Did Al-Bashir win today? – Seems like the Nasir Rebellion worked out in his favor!

Today, the release of the Points of Framework Agreement of 25th June 2018 was released. Key sentences from the agreement between Transitional Government of National Unity(TGoNU)/Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army(SPLM/A) of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) of Dr. Riek Machar with oversight of agreement of the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. The sentence between these gentlemen that can be put in question is this:

To delegate the government of Sudan to take the necessary steps towards securing oil fields in South Sudan in coordination with the Government of South Sudan, and to work on the rehabilitation of the oil fields with the view to restore previous levels of the oil production. In this context, the outstanding issues between the two sisterly countries of Sudan and South Sudan related to oil sector shall be resolved” (Points of Framework Agreement, 25.06.2018).

Did the Nasir rebellion against Dr. John Garang win did this week? Since the years has gone since Dr. Riek Machar rebelled against Garang with support of Khartoum. Now the Khartoum government clearly has one over the New Sudan and the vision of independent South Sudan. Especially if they are taking more control of the oil sector in both Republics. This is a solid victory for the Warlord of Khartoum. He has solidified his balance and his terms, without doing much of late. His partner and friend Machar has served him a victory. The Nasir Fraction has given way and made sure that support of SPLM/A-IO, the rebellion that started in Nasir in 28th August 1991. That means the battle and support of Al-Bashir was worth it for Machar.

That Kiir and SPLM/A should feel fooled, they should as they we’re battling for independence and control of the oil reserves, but if the agreement is ratified. Than the Khartoum still will have control and the issues of the past will resurface. This is like the past has hit Juba again. The New Sudan has been outsmarted and the plans of interference and using proxy militias has worked for Al-Bashir. The Kiir government are really tarnishing the ideas the of Dr. Garang if he follows these provisions and honors these words. Then the New Sudan is slowing dying, as they are still noble creatures being told what to earn and how much to get by the Khartoum regime.

That this wasn’t what South Sudan fought for, when they fought for secession from Khartoum. They didn’t sign agreements of separation to give securities and the valuable oil be controlled by Al-Bashir. He is getting his will and the Nasir Rebellion has succeeded today.

Especially if the partners are following this or even thinking of implementing this. Certainly, this is disrespectful to long battle for freedom from Khartoum. That the Warlords has possibly traded away the thing of the most value, the oil. The revenue will again be in control from afar.

This is a victory for Khartoum and a loss for Juba. Certainly looks like it to me. The South Sudanese might gotten a cease-fire, but with these provisions. It is surely costly and loss of independence after all. Peace.