Revealing some of the Companies associated with the “Zero Tolerance” Camps at the Southern Border!

You would think that the leadership and boards within miles reach of the United States border to Mexico. Would be careful or even try to avoid that their businesses is connected with the state agencies who are detaining toddlers and kids at random camps. This is done as they are taken from their parents who has fled crisis in their homeland for refuge in the United States. Clearly, the humanitarian response from the United States, is to classify everyone crossing borders as illegals by definition. Every single individual without a visa is a criminal. That is what the Trump Administration has done and with draconian fascist effort, they have taken the kids from the fleeing refugees and asylum seekers.

That is why we have to show the companies behind this. This despicable act is not done without help from companies, who has no heart and soul. Who has no issues with getting the tenders and the government funding for their operations. For them it is big-profits in sheltering kids away from their parents and make cages for the kids. They are making and earning money on the kids whose only sin was crossing the border into the United States. From there are they are pawns and useful tools for the Republican Party to get their votes and laws in other respects. They are criminalizing toddlers and kids, they are detaining and separating them. While this is happening, certain companies are helping the government doing so.

The first company helping out is Accenture, who is the agency the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is using for hiring new Border Patrol Agents. MVM Inc is used for Operational Support and Microsoft Azure is used for Tech Services. For buses, they are using Trailboss INC. The other key companies involved are General Dynamics owned by Vanguard Group, whose has contracts with the Office for Refugee Settlements. Core Civic is a for profit prison company, who is also invested in this and Texas based company running shelters are Denenburg Development. Also providing detention and care systems are Southwest Key. All of these companies are involved in various ways for the sheltering and camps for kids. They should be remembered for that. The owners and the stakeholders should be ashamed of how they are earning their profits.

They are earning millions of dollars on the suffering of the asylum and refugee families who are separated by the will of the Trump Administration. They are vultures whose sole mission is to earn funds on other people’s tears and sufferings. This should make them ashamed and make them reconsider. Because these companies will be associated with this crimes against humanity. Where parents are not knowing when they are seeing their kids again. These companies are helping the Trump Administration to do these evil deeds.

They should look into what they do and should also stop making it possible. The American consumers and other companies should boycott these. These companies should be put on lists not to interact with. They are helping kids being separated from parents. That is wrong everywhere, except in the crazy minds of the Republican Party. Peace.

Brexit dividend is hogwash at its best!

We know that Prime Minister Theresa May and the Conservative Party wants the best outlook and the favorable view of the withdrawal from the European Union. However, their whole flawed negotiations and the parameter of agreements shows their neglect, more than winning when concerning the days after being a Member State within the EU. That is all forgotten, this has been shown with the dreamland approach to the Customs Union, Migrations and the trade agreements in general. The lack of policies and openness makes the uncertainty even more dire.

It is like the Tories plans to wing it and fix it after the Titanic hit the iceberg. Hope they can save the passengers and the ones on board without having a general plan for any sort of evacuation or sinking itself. That is evident as every day has gone from the ballots cast at the referendum. They haven’t shown signs of certainty or anything really, that is why Businesses has warned the government, businesses have moved to Dublin or even Germany. Manufacturing businesses started to move to other EU Countries, even Land Rover being produced in Eastern Europe to secure the tariffs to the EU Common Market. If that isn’t dire, the loss of jobs and therefore, also the revenue of the production. Will hit the government. But they don’t want to talk about that.

That is why the Tories and PM May is speaking positive about the Brexit Dividend, as the lack of paying to EU projects and EU organizations will save the government so much money, as they are maybe even forgetting the money that is going to EU sponsored infrastructure projects and educations sector. However, that is maybe not in May’s calculation. Who knows at this point right? It is all spinning the wheel and hoping no-one looks into it.

The Tories should be horrified of the situation they have put businesses in, the population and the uncertainty of what they are getting out of it. There so many warning signs, and so much business already moving and sparking messages that they are planning to do so. Because they are worried about capital, tariffs and also their possible transfer of goods between the UK and the rest of EU. None of this is certain. Maybe the UK get less free-market, but also less open borders when concerning people. But the reaction from the EU will be less friendly trading partner and that will hit the banks and corporations. The City of London might lose it power in Europe, as that moves to Frankfurt and even Dublin. That must hurt the pride of UK. The sun isn’t setting on an empire, but a sinking ship.

A sinking ship they themselves put on fire and saying everything is fine and dandy. The UK has played themselves for fools and now only getting uncertainty. That is what outsiders are seeing and weird that the UK are accepting this. They are going to get hurt by the Brexit, whether they like it or not. There isn’t any signs that shows otherwise. As the ramification on production, industry and businesses, the ones generating revenue are under fire and the bonfires are not put out. Instead, the Tories are hoping no one notice.

Theresa May might promise more to the problematic NHS, but then the taxes has to grow, the people will be more taxed. As the revenue from the corporations and businesses will go down. As the Customs Union, the issues of lack of trading policies and the reaction of becoming third country and trade as that. Will not make the change friction-less, but instead hurt the economy and the windfall be costly for the population.

Therefore, the UK should be wiser, but not anticipate it. The Tories are busy scheming and lying, trying to configure components and trying to foolishly spin the reality. Without showing the reality, that is why the leaks of possible damage of the Brexit took so long. The Department tried to keep them to themselves, because they knew these numbers would hurt the cause. That is why David Davis and others in the Tories wanted to keep all information to not show the reality to the public. Because they knew that this was an issue and would likely make the citizens afraid of leaving.

The United Kingdom citizens should ask for openness and transparency, as the state have tried to not show the reality for months and since the referendum. That shouldn’t be the state of affairs, and that is why the uncertainty is there. Combined with the lack clear policies and willingness to show what sort of exit the UK wants. As they have moved back- and fourth. There been so much squabble and internal issues within the Tories alone. That the Brexiteers and the Remainers have made the negotiations and the EU uncertain of what the UK really wants. The EU have clear guidelines, but the UK want to make their own. Which will be impossible.

This saga is far from over, but the Tories will continue to spin, but not be caught in the hype. The losers are the public and the citizens, as the uncertainty only makes businesses and the manufacturing companies more certain of moving across the borders to safety. The Brexit Dividend is a forgery and will not become a reality. Only May and her Brexiteers believes that. Peace.

Bitter-Sweet Sugar: Cartels total control and inaction of Jubilee – Contaminated imports for profits!

We can wonder and think, who in their right mind orders contaminated agricultural products, rebrand it and sell it on the open with a clear conscious. That is what should bugle us right now. That the Kenyan Authorities together with the Sugar Cartels are accepting this and profiting on it. If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have ordered, imported and tried to sell it on the market to the consumers. That is what is up and happen as the minor stops of it. The people should be worried about the authorities and what they are exposed too on the daily basis. When they cannot even trust the white sugar they are consuming.

The Kenyan people should worry, that the illegal imports through Kismaayo of Somalia, the illegal cartels of Mombasa and other places are highly-connected has pocketed key figures of industry, ports and in the ministries. If it wasn’t so, they would have had more trouble with the law. They wouldn’t just take a load of contaminated sugar, they would have ceased more and banned this trade. However, the government are doing little except tough talk. Even Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is supposed to die over this, but he will not stand-by his side-dish. So I doubt it.

It is like the Jubilee knows about the ill they are getting in, thinking of the profits and of the friendly owners of the millers. Without thinking about the citizens who possible consuming it and how it might hurt them. If it is contaminated, it might damage the body and even cause fatal ills for someone. Then someone dies over something as petty as illegal and deadly sugar. Has that even been considered? Wouldn’t that been an avoidable tragedy?

That the government, the agencies and the authorities in general haven’t delivered is obvious, while this is not only hurting the average citizen. Who could be worried about going to the market and supermarket to pick a kilo of sugar. But also the farmers who produce for the millers. They don’t know if the millers and the authorities is helping to sell second-level or third-level products from afar. While rebranding it with their labels, like the ones that comes from the local producers. Then the public will loose trust with the millers who makes this sugar.

This here is the proof of how not to run, how not to delegate and not to use the oversight role as government, as they are misusing power, being in bed with the cartels and not giving a fig about the population. Because if they know they are illegally importing through Mombasa and Kismaayo, the authorities should stop it and get rid of it. Not let it go, let it be rebranded and made ready for the market. Because then the suppliers, the supermarkets and the consumers all loose on it. Only the Sugar Cartels and the Importers earns on it.

They are spiking, they are playing and coming with a dangerous product that shouldn’t be consumed by people. It should be used for matters, if not just confiscated and destroyed at arrival. Than ask for reparation of damages and possible breaches of contract, as they we’re not given edible sugar. But dangerous ones, that shouldn’t be produced in the first place. Peace.

#UGBudget18: Museveni – Was this a budget speech?

I don’t know where start or where to finish. As I am not a tool of propaganda and here to make the President look like super-star with a brilliant mind. Warning the media, banning Police Bond for Killers and all other spats of nonsense, which has nothing to do with the budget. It is just like he has defend himself. As President, he even attacked MPs and their attitude. They were ATMs to their voters, something he is and been called himself. He even recently tried to bribe his MP into position in Rukungiri. So that the President has short-term memory is evident.

You know he is in self-hostile territory, when one of the biggest donors and on of the biggest media owners Aga Khan gets a warning. Surely, the President cannot handle journalism and only care about praise. He cannot manage that people are looking into the growing debt. As this budget alone is 10 trillion back-pay of loans of the 32 trillions spent. While there is shortfall and growing deficit and the donor funds are still dwindling. Therefore, the need for loans to cover the shortfall is needed. So what the President is creating is a debt-trap. He can say he managed that since he used 27 guns, but different to blow former-leadership into oblivion and actually being able to repay your debt.

I am just awaiting the salute and the simple minded changes he is progressing into middle-income country, as the President is showing less intent of doing anything. He just talking about nothing and everything. Quoting the bible and acting holier than the pope, while warning everyone else. Not that it is securing anything. He will secure it all, as he is the man who has the answers. If this is getting boring, is that he has done this for 32 years and counting. And has not changed, other than his face and tenure of hair on his head.

It is like he doesn’t care and just say whatever that is on his mind. No one will fact-check or really check the relevance, because why mind. Its a deluded old man, who has been so long in power, that the ones going against are either in jail or possibly monitored by the sleeping police officers his been talking about. He is again blaming the mindset of Ugandans. Because there is never his fault. He has just been running the enclave and people gotten lazy, awaiting handouts. Not like he has delivered any of his pledges, built institutions or prosperous organizations for the citizens. That is just his lack of mindset and work ethic.

Therefore, there is no need to really dig deep into the speech. It is mere facade, a mere forged mirage of utter nonsense. A speech rampant of lies and warnings. If your a journalist or MP, you should feel offended. Because he expect to be praised, while your supposed to carry the nonsense from him.

The saddest part is that he takes no responsibility, that he has no accountability or no common sense. That this man just continuing to utter these words, like a word-salad of mockery of intelligence. While expecting that the spinning-machine of his party, his spokespersons and friendly media will make him look a giant. They will eat the crap out of it and make it look like gold, but its only fools gold. Not worth the bling its made off, better to buy a Rollex in Wandegeya, it will at least fill your tummy for a moment. Because the fools gold will be worthless and just ready for the bin.

President Museveni has no cards to play or nothing to say that changes the narrative. Only 1986ing the world and hoping he can get away with it. However, the debt trap should worry him. Nevertheless, it is the next generation that will pay-back it and he will be dead by then. Peace.

KCC dispute: GÉCAMINES reaches an agreement with KATANGA GROUP, and defines with GLENCORE the foundations for a new win-win partnership (13.06.2018)

LUBUMBASHI, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 13, 2018 – On 12 June 2018, GÉCAMINES (www.Gecamines.cd), together with its subsidiary SOCIÉTÉ IMMOBILIÈRE DU CONGO (“SIMCO”), entered into with KATANGA MINING LIMITED and some of its affiliated companies (the “KATANGA GROUP”) as well as their joint company KAMOTO COPPER COMPANY (“KCC”), a settlement agreement (the “Agreement”).

Under the terms of the Agreement, the following goals and results are targeted, among others:

  • KCC’s net equity will be restored in accordance with applicable laws ;
  • KCC’s indebtedness towards the GLENCORE group will be reduced from 9 billion USD down to 3.45 billion USD as at 1 January 2018;
  • Interest rates applicable on intra-group loans are revised and shall no longer exceed 6% per year;
  • On the basis of KCC’s current business plan, as early as the 2019 fiscal year, GÉCAMINES will start, for the first time, receiving dividends, which assessed cumulated amount should exceed 2 billion USD over the next ten years;
  • The profits will allow for the payment of corporate taxes being likely to significantly contribute to the replenishment the Congolese State’s treasury;
  • A better valuation, in the future, of GÉCAMINES’ contribution of the copper and cobalt deposits to the partnership through a significant increase of the amount per ton of the pas de porte, from 35 USD to 110 USD, and which can reach 170 USD in certain scenarios;
  • A significant increase of the valuation of GÉCAMINES’ ownership in KCC, which value was until then nil due to the high level of indebtedness of the company;
  • The waiver by KCC to the benefit of the JORC certified reserves amounting to 3,992,185 tCu and 205,629 tCo (the “Reserves”), releasing GÉCAMINES from its obligation to deliver the Reserves or, failing that, to pay a counter-value of a maximum amount of 285 million USD;
  • The payment by the KATANGA GROUP of a settlement indemnity (150 million USD) in favor GÉCAMINES; and
  • The withdrawal by GÉCAMINES and SIMCO, at closing, from the judicial proceeding initiated before the Commercial Court of Kolwezi on 20 April 2018.

GÉCAMINES welcomes the outcome of the discussions with the KATANGA GROUP and its majority shareholder GLENCORE PLC, and the new foundations now set for the partnership, with a view to an effective sharing of wealth, with immediate financial benefits for all the stakeholders, and in particular the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the affected communities. GÉCAMINES hopes that upcoming negotiations with other partners and companies will be conducted in a similar open and respectful climate, and will reach the same satisfactory outcome.

Brexit: House of Commons – Consideration of Lords Amendments – “The Unity Amendment”

Brexit: The UK will get a HARD Border with the EU!

The European Union has a rebuttal to the United Kingdom’s technical note on the Temporary Customs Arrangement with the EU, that they published on the 7th June 2018. Again, there are questionable things with the UK arrangement. As they are not properly prepared or have solutions to the new status of the Kingdom. That is weird that after so long working on leaving the EU, the UK still have no clue or at least delivering hackwork to the negotiating partner.

That is why some parts of the Technical Note from EU that was published today is critiquing the UK. They are really leaving nothing behind. Everything is criticized, they did this on the 8th June 2018 and published it today on the 11th June 2018. So the EU didn’t wait long to answer the UK.

What the UK lacks in their note is to explain this parts to the EU:

Customs

Duties, VAT and excise, trade policy, governance

Regulatory [no UK proposal]”

That the UK and the Tories have no explanation concerning the duties, VAT, excise, trade policy or even governance of the Customs Unions between them. That the duties of goods, the lack of explaining the VAT arrangement and general trade policy. This is all about how the UK as a third-party state to the EU will comply with the standards and also how they will tax the goods. How the labeling and the checking of the goods between the EU and the UK. That is the governance that is not explained. They have been working on this months and still have no clear indication of how the UK plans to this and what they are wanting to see.

There is no regulation or regulatory explanation of it. That is a real surprise, as this is tale of how the goods and the movement of products are supposed to adjust the new border requirement. The Customs will then follow standards and protocol of the papers, licenses and the general checks of the goods. The added duties, VAT and excise taxes as well. It is weird that the negotiating team of the UK haven’t delivered.

The EU Note is specific in the nature that the EU decision-making autonomy in Trade Policy and also Full EU Supervision and enforcement mechanisms, this means the UK has to follow both parts of the Trade Policy from the EU. That is if they want their goods to be fairly crossing into the Customs Union and the regulations they are following it. It is interesting and weird that the UK have no proposal for the regulatory devices of the customs arrangement between them. If that isn’t a failure, than nothing is.

The key ending of the arrangement from the technical note is this: “Does not cover regulatory controls, leading to a hard border”. So the softness of the UK will not have affect, the effect of the withdrawal will be hard, the price of leaving the Union will be hard. The border are most likely hard, as the proposals are either non-existing or not following the needs of the EU. This is something the negotiating team of UK should know. They cannot have the same arrangement as they have today, because they are not an member(wrote that a few times now, but it seem to be consistent with the nonsense the London offices gives to the world).

That is the impact the UK has to await themselves. Even Michel Barnier stated this on the 8th of June:

In all the UK papers that we have been receiving until now – which I read carefully with my team – there has been a request to maintain the status quo, a form of continuity, which is paradoxical seeing as the country decided itself to leave the European Union. The United Kingdom seems to want to maintain the benefits of the current relationship, while leaving the EU regulatory, supervision, and application framework. When we respond to UK leaders saying that these benefits are not accessible outside the EU system – because of their decision – some people in the UK try to blame us for the consequences of this. I simply want to say that we will not be swayed, I will not be swayed, by this blame game” (Press statement by Michel Barnier following this week’s round of negotiations, 08.06.2018).

The UK have stop sending their hob-knobs across Calais and send someone with a little common sense. They must be embarrassed, the people of United Kingdom should be shocked and in awe. Because their politicians are continuing to their future and their opportunities for a ride. The Tories Government should deliver safe customs union and policies, which fit with their new role with the EU. Instead, they are thinking it be worked out in the near future. United Kingdom and their businesses should worry about this, hard border because of laziness and lack of delivery to the negotiating team.

The only one losing big is the UK and not the EU. The EU are asking for certain things from the UK. Which the UK doesn’t even have and that puts the EU into a positions, where they have to make a HARD BORDER. Because their rules will not be changed by a outside entity like the UK. Peace.

Fresh UN Report: Illigal Gold Smuggling from the DRC to Uganda!

There been new reports on the gold smuggling to Uganda from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, it needs more reporting, as this illegal trading and looting of mineral resources from the Republic needs to be put a spotlight on. As this trade is feeding illegitimate government and militias whose using force against innocent civilians and citizens in general. This report that is reported in the report from the Group of Experts are expelling a deep, but also a volatile story of how they are transporting and getting the illegal gold into the market.

We can wonder if this gold enters the Gen. Salim Selah owned African Gold Refinery Limited in Entebbe, before flying away into the World Market through the brokers and traders there. We can question that, as the government on both sides of the border is accepting this. They are both earning on this and not registering it. Therefore, the location of extraction is kept secret, while the production and the paperwork is kept under the radar. That is why the consumer cannot know under what condition the gold came from and that is worrying. The smuggling, the lack of paperwork and forging of documents shows they are really pushing the boundaries to get into the global markets.

Also, this shows how blatant disregard for maladministration, they have done deliberately and not cared about the public.

Smugglers used the road to Mahagi, where they travelled either by motorbike, taxi or even truck. At the border with Uganda, when they were eventually checked, they bribed customs officials on the Congolese side. All of the Group’s informants on this issue confirmed that, in Goli, on the Ugandan side of the border, they were not asked to present papers or explain the origin of gold that they carried. Mahagi is a long-established hub of the smuggling route” (P: 22)

Two brokers told the Group that they mainly carried gold from mining sites in Kawa and Monbgwalu in Djugu territory. When they arrived in Goli, they would meet with a broker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who would accompany them to sell to Kampala-based dealers. One of the brokers told the Group that, until February 2018, he travelled to Kampala every two weeks with about 3 kilograms of gold (approximately $132,000) 20 per trip” (P: 22-23).

The Group confirmed that, in Entebbe Airport, companies sell empty seats. As previously documented, empty seats are used by smugglers to transport gold concealed in hand luggage. Two individuals associated with the gold sector in Kampala, one Kampala-based gold broker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and one migration officer stationed at the airport in Entebbe told the Group that, despite the official claim that minerals cannot leave the country without proper paperwork, gold smugglers continue to travel either without documentation or with forged documents. The migration officer and the broker told the Group that the owners of gold being trafficked do not travel themselves but use couriers who fly to Dubai to deliver the gold to buyers there. The two sources added that couriers can operate easily because they bribe customs and security officers at Entebbe airport” (…) “Two Ugandan nationals working for two airlines operating from Entebbe informed the Group that they are not requested to check gold in hand luggage. In the course of its current mandate, the Group held discussions with senior officials of eight airlines operating in and out of the Great Lakes region, who said that their primary role in checking passengers was to make sure no one was carrying anything that could jeopardize the security of the plane, a policy focusing almost entirely on weapons and explosives. The Group is of the view that gold transported on commercial aeroplanes should not be banned as it represents a key form of export for responsible artisanal and small-scale mining activity that observes the requisite due diligence guidelines. However, there is a need to address the loopholes related to the illegal transportation of gold carried in hand luggage on commercial aeroplanes” (P: 24, 2018).

Clearly, the illegal trade of gold should be looked into and be a worry for the international community, as the is funding militias and illegal activity within the DRC. This should not be overlooked, the clear indication of smuggling gold and also not registering the conflict minerals. Therefore, this is sophisticated and using all means to bribe lower level civil servants on both sides, to secure the trade of this can go-on. Both republic’s can do something about this, if they cared or had incentive to do so. However, they seem pretty fine and dandy with this activity. As the state and the close connected activity with the elites who are sponging the funds made from it.

That is why even President Museveni was there for the opening of the Gold Refinery in Entebbe. That shows that the Republic have no trouble with illegal smuggling of gold from the DRC. Peace.

Reference:

United Nations Security Council – ‘ Final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’ (04.06.2018).

#SOTNU18: Importing too much and Exporting too little; What could be the reason?

“Yet, as our Baganda people say, “Omugo oguli ku murirano, tegugoba engo” ─ (the stick in your neighbour’s house cannot help you to fight off a leopard)” Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the State of the Nation, 2018 (06.06.2018).

I have stopped after a years to look and breakdown the whole speech of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Because no one should waste that amount of time, unless your Don Wanyama, Tamale Mirundi or Andrew Mwenda. The rest of the random average Joe’s just shouldn’t waste our time with that. After 32 years, what new thing can he re-up and said, what sort of pledge haven’t he pulled out off his ass. Everything has been said, its just rewind of the previous years. There might something amazing, but you should doubt it.

That is why I will focus the passages on the growth to become a Middle-Income Country:

I hear so many people talk about the attainment of the middle-income status by Uganda. The main problem here is, actually, the problem of Uganda importing too much and exporting little. The GDP per capita today is US$776. To become a middle income country, you need, at least, US$1,006 per capita. This money is calculated in Dollars. Too much importing and too little exporting undermines the progress to a middle-income status. Therefore, Ugandans, please, buy Ugandan; travel Ugandan; health-wise, be treated in Uganda. The government will facilitate its part as outlines in this speech. All I have said above is about the economy that is being developed to create wealth and jobs for the Ugandans as well as widening the tax base for the State of Uganda. At the same time, this bigger economy provides more goods and services for Uganda’s domestic consumption and for exports. Your NRM, always looking ahead, has already negotiated and arranged with our brother and sister Africans to ensure the market integration of Africa (EAC, COMESA, CFTA), so as to provide capacity for the absorption of the greater supply of goods and services produced by the Ugandans awakened to realize their potential as we also buy from our brothers and sisters in Africa, as we all take advantage of the huge collective market of Africa. Besides the huge continental market we are creating with our African brothers, the NRM always never missing in action when it comes to African issues, we have also negotiated for third party market access to the USA, EU, Chinese, Japanese and Indian markets, in varying degrees. Hence, ladies and gentlemen, the NRM has addressed or is addressing all the factors that are necessary to open the gates to the Ugandans engaged in wealth and jobs creation. Let everybody, then, play his or her own part” (Yoweri Museveni – State of the Nation, 2018, 06.06.3028).

The ironies are staggering as the economic policies, the industrial policies and agricultural outputs of the Republic is all in the hands of Museveni. If the NRM wanted to have trade surplus, they would have put in work and made sure the industries, the agricultural output and the end-product that they wanted to put into the world market. That is if the NRM had actually cared, because most policies seems to be short-term and for the short-con, not even the long-con. The projects and projections are for short term gains, not building things.

The specialized boards for the promotion of Ugandan produce and products has been lacking. Also maybe that they haven’t configured to the standards of the world-wide markets. That is why the coffee is sold as beans and not locally branded robusta. It is blended into random blends of foreign corporations instead of being locally grinded and packed ready for the big multi-national supermarket chains. Instead they are sold with least profits as the produce and not as the product. That is what is wrong with the ideas of Ugandan business. They have not thought of how to get value for the produce. This is all because the business is fixated on quick profits, but not going the extra mile.

That is because the NRM have no incentive to this or to try to do it. If they had incentive and any ideas of this. They would have figured it out and industrialized the agricultural output. Neither is put in the cash and the investment to build juice-factories as promised in Amuru, That has been promised for so long, as people are giving up in Katakwi District. This is the reality.

Therefore, listening to the President bitch about the lack of modernization and industrialization of the Republic. Is his fault, as he has put in the work and the ability to change the business models. That is because the way the state does with investors and designate cronyism. Where the businessmen have to political connected and make sure to grease the wheels to get it running.

It is a nice idea to get Ugandans to buy Ugandan products. But then you have to deliver good Ugandan products to fair price, also make sure it is competitive. There are lacking issues and basic need to make sure the possible produce could create added-value. Instead the quick profit and direct exports is the reason for lack of more currency. That would help the republic and make more money without to heavy investments, while using what they already produce plenty off.

While the state has to figure out if they want this, because this could help them to gain another monetary gain. But they doubt they will, because right now, it is the short-con and the quick-fix instead of actually building something for the future. Peace.

Opinion: Taxes get levied deliberately, not by a mistake!

Again, the Mobile Money and the Exercise Duty Tax Amendment of 2018 are proven to be without due diligence. There so many aspects that is left behind. This time it comes from the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) Matia Kasaija. Whose now is trying hard to wash his hands from the added taxes on the public. Like it would make a giant difference between a half percentage or 1 percentage of the transaction in taxes to the state. Yes, there is a difference and the cost are still hitting the public and making Mobile Money more expensive before even spending it.

This is the proof the National Resistance Movement (NRM), how they have rushed these taxes to please the President. Because there hasn’t been enough consultation or proof of the possible outcome of it. Other than some numbers hitting the wall and hopeful earnings for the state. The state needs revenue, but will they bill themselves into more trouble, as they are hitting the poorest the most. Which doesn’t use banking services. They use Mobile Money for their transfers and use the Cellphones for their transactions. That is why is worrying for the public.

The Excuse from the Minister:

““The NRM caucus and Cabinet sat and agreed on 0.5% instead of 1%. I don’t know what happened,” he said. Last week, Parliament passed a 1% tax on mobile money as part of the Excise Duty amendment Bill. The opponents of this tax say that the 1% tax on mobile money will hurt the economy, its people and it is counterproductive. “I am sorry. I was out of the country when it was passed. I will have a discussion with the President and maybe by the time I read the budget next week, a solution will have been found,” Kasaija said” (Wamala, 2018).

It help to be on vacation. I wonder if the President did the same during the Age Limit debacle, as he traveled around the globe. While the skirmishes was happening in the Parliament. Now the Minister says the same. That he now will try to fix it. No matter if he reverse it, it will still add more cost to the consumers and the ones who needs the Mobile Money. A service that is needed, as the banking system isn’t for everyone and neither is the day-to-day lives of many able to even be parts of it. That is because the state has left these groups of unemployed and poor behind.

What still worries me, is that there are no scope of the possible effect and what it will do to the economy. If there will substantial growth or down-turn. If certain groups that is hit, will be worse of and struggle more. Then the question is, will the added revenue be used in other parts of the economy to boost their need for services or just to pay off old debt?

Because, these taxes will be felt by the amounts of people who struggle, who has little or nearly none. There are plenty of them. These will pay-off huge sums for them, because this is subtracted directly from their salaries and sales as hawkers and traders, farmers and whatnot. Just sending money to relatives in up-country will be more costly. This is clearly just sending the memo, that the digital age is in for the taking and the advantages are becoming more expensive.

This wasn’t error, this was deliberate, even if you we’re away Mr. Kasaija. You can try to save face, but its better to reverse before speaking out. This is you trying to look good for the spotlight before addressing the Parliament. That is all. Peace.

Reference:

Wamala, Maria – ‘Mobile money tax was passed in error – Kasaija’ (05.06.2018) link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1479138/mobile-money-tax-passed-error-kasaija