Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine statement on the Second Passing of the Mobile Money Tax (02.10.2018)

Today I attended Parliament after some time, for the sole purpose of making our voice heard on the mobile money tax. The government has deliberately avoided a discussion on the social media tax!

Majority of the NRM Members of Parliament voted to maintain the mobile money tax. 164 MPs voted in favor of the tax while 124 of us voted to have it scrapped. I know that we are all disappointed but not surprised.

Once again, a majority of our elected representatives ignored the cries and pleas of the common person. I have made it clear to my colleagues that we must learn to side with the people or the people will despair. They cannot continue to further oppress the already oppressed citizens of this country.

I must appreciate all colleague MPs who voted for the removal of the tax. Special thanks to the many NRM MPs who defied the intimidation and voted with the people. From experience, we know that they will be persecuted for taking a contrary stand. But I know that the reward for doing what is right always outweighs any form of persecution.

Ultimately, all these things emphasise what I have been saying- our redemption will not come from anywhere else. It will come from us. We only need to realise that all power lies with us. If our own MPs, elected by us, cannot listen to us on anything, including redeeming us from exploitative taxes, then we must realise that WE ARE ON OUR OWN and work each day to liberate ourselves. No one else will do. Teli kuzikiza.

Uganda: The Excise Duty (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2018

Pre Mobile Money Tax: BOU registered significant growth in FY2017/18!

Today, there is a new vote and amendment of the Mobile Money in the Parliament. They voted like blind drones in the last go-around and most likely to do the same. With a little flair and jippo, hoping the hungry hippo isn’t mad. However, the reality remained, that a growing market, a market where the revenue and natural growth could have resided. The National Resistance Movement and their President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, went in like bulldozer. Hoping it wouldn’t destroy it, but actually gain. It is foolish, but that is how they act.

That is why it is special to read again, what where there, but what is now hurt:

“Mobile money services continued to register significant growth in the year ended June 2018. The number of mobile money transactions increased to 1.3 trillion for the year to June 2018 from 1.1 trillion transactions in the prior year. The corresponding value of mobile money transactions increased to UGX 73.1 trillion from UGX 52.8 trillion in the previous year. However, the number of registered mobile money users decreased from 22.8 million in June 2017 to 22.7 million as at end of June 2018, largely attributed to the deregistration of mobile money accounts whose users had not submitted the requisite KYC credentials to maintain their registration status. Growth of mobile money activity has significantly benefited from diversified usage beyond the initial remittances, airtime purchases and bills payments. New developments such as bank account to mobile money wallet and vice versa, have significantly changed the conduct of banking business and increased convenience of access to banking services. In addition, customers are now also able to save and borrow through their mobile money accounts which has positive knock-on effects to financial intermediation in general” (Bank of Uganda Annual Report 2017/2018).

We know post- June 2018, that the landscape has changed. Even mere month after the Mobile Money tax, the usage went down and the companies we’re sending red-signals to the authorities. The added revenue stream to government, didn’t met up to par or the levels anticipated, as people changed their pattern and usage of money. Because, who want to pay double or triple tax for sending money? Than, they rather hire a boda to drive the money from town to town. It can even be cheaper, than paying the Uganda Revenue Authority or the MTN for their services.

Clearly, this little snippet of the report from the Bank of Uganda, should show the Members of Parliament, the importance of Mobile Money. Which, they had no trouble with interfering in and also possibly hurt. This are for the ones that cannot afford ordinary banking services or for the ones, in the villages that are too far away to even register their cash there. They should matter to the MPs, but they didn’t before, as they took this informal banking services through the Cellphone providers and added more pain. Instead of finding ways to grow it and expand. So more people could benefit from the new money unleashed on the market this way. Peace.

Bobi Wine and the “Arua 34” Treason Case deferred to 3rd December 2018: State procedure to postpone as long as they can!

Again, the Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and all his comrades from the Post Arua By-Election fracas had to answer the courts. This time they answered in the Gulu Magistrates Court. As per ordinary function, as the lack of evidence of the crime, lack of investigation within the month, close to two months. The Sate haven’t collected or bothered to explain the charges put on these people. They are just putting the pain on the individual, hoping they will buckle under pressure.

This is something is mandatory for any freedom fighter and anyone who is working against Bosco and his henchmen. If you’re a leader of some stature, you will be in Court and your charges will be fraudulent raised against you. That is the only outcome, as the state has already gotten rid of the forged gun charged, which was monopolized weapons and ammunition of the army. Which suddenly ended up planted in the Hotel Room of Bobi Wine on the fatal day of his driver in Arua. While the car, which was first a luggage vehicle, turned more important a few days later, as the President own admission has been altered since the day of proposed action. Where the glass was perfectly shattered and not even damaged on the paint of the car, which is magic in my opinion.

Here is today current state of affairs:

“Gulu Magistrate’s court has deferred to December 3 the case in which Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and 34 others are charged with treason over the violence ahead of the Arua Municipality by-election. The case resumed for mention on Monday in Gulu before Grade One magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana. However, the state prosecutor, Mr Julius Ochen, told court that they needed more time to gather more evidence against the accused” (Unity FM 97.7 Lira, 01.10.2018).

So if you think the saga of Bobi Wine and Arua is over. Forget about it. The Kabale Magistrate Court, prolonged the ‘Walk to Work’ case against them in 2012, but was still working on the case, even in 2016. Therefore, expect the same kind of nonsense in the manner of Bobi Wine. As he has enough supporters and have a generation behind him. That Bosco never will touch, unless he bribes them to oblivion and back. Nevertheless, they do not trust Bosco.

Now, that we are here and seeing this, expect it to last long, until 2019, maybe even 2020, if the NRM needs it to be. Because these court cases will pile up and stop Bobi Wine from campaigning and even be a viable candidate. This will stifle his affairs as he answers to forged up charges made by the state and these crimes has to be settled before he is really a free man. This is intended play by the authorities. The ones thinking otherwise are willingly to be fooled and thinking this is genuine. Then, they have learned nothing from all the issues and Court proceedings Besigye has had in his long career as a viable opposition candidate. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Kampala Metropolitan Police operation targeted a Terrorist Cell in Lubaga Division (29.09.2018)

Opinion: Ssekandi you should talk to your boss, because he is the one that creates the insecurity!

There is times for the ones in power to called upon their bullshit. This sort of comments is foolish. It is not like the opposition has the army or have the police at their beckoning-call. They are following orders from above high and the authorities run by the ruling regime. The way the soldiers and police officers acts towards the citizens are report-on and uploaded instantly to the social media. So, if the Police or the Army is acting out. The world will know, the foreign investors will know. Therefore, if the President and VP cares about this. Maybe, they shouldn’t crash any opposition meeting. Maybe not send their ill-disciplined security officers.

VP Edward Ssekandi are really using the tactic of warning the citizens, while they are the ones oppressed. It wasn’t them sending the army to Entebbe or ordering the Presidential Guards into Kamwokya, Kampala recently. No, that was from above and their acts in Mityana and elsewhere, just resembles the chaotic nation he speaks off.

GOMBA- Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has warned that the country risks losing a number of foreign investors if Ugandans don’t shun political violence and land conflicts.“Be cautious about the ugly scenes you’re creating in our country because investors can’t put their money in a chaotic nation. Peace and security are paramount in attracting investments and therefore, I wish to call upon all Ugandans to ensure peace wherever you’re to see miracles of these investors here,” he said” (Mbogo, 2018).

Maybe not speak of chaos, on the day your government order the soldiers and the police to make road-blocks all around Masaka, because Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine travels from Kasangati to Masaka. Clearly, the NRM hasn’t gotten the memo from the big-man Ssekandi. Whose stretch of powers seems abysmal, as the Prime Minister has more of an office and voice within the Presidency.

While it is like that. Ssekandi should maybe think of what Bosco does and what orders he gives. As it is him whose most responsible for the acts of the Special Force Command and the Police, which is in-charge and the ones doing the torture. Doing the preventative arrests and whatnot else, which is creating chaos and problems. We know that the authorities just turned of the electricity, as Bobi Wine was addressing the nation from the United States. Therefore, the VP needs to address the State House. And not the citizens.

So, VP Ssekandi call-up Bosco, tell him to order the military back to the barracks and battlefields. Not be in public to intimidate and create chaos. Peace.

Reference:

Sadat Mbogo – ‘Political violence, land conflicts scare away investors – says Ssekandi’ 28.09.2018 link:http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Political-violence-land-conflicts-investors-Ssekandi-solar/688334-4781474-8893gwz/index.html

Bosco is the Rooster: Bobi Wine’s People Power is there to free the animals!

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is trying every way possible to deflect and dismantle the opposition. He has used all the tactics he can muster. Even the will of trying to make Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) irrelevant and also internal in-fighting isn’t helping the cause of the President. Because, there has come another force, another wave he cannot control or even interfere.

This one is Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who represents the new generation and the ones ready for change from the status quo and is ready for proper representation. Not just a fake peace, where if they question the ruler and his party. You will face consequences. Bobi Wine has done this and has already paid. Now Bobi Wine are going through what Kizza Besigye has been through. Just today, the whole of Masaka was a militarized zone and road-blocks to the Masaka Liberation Square, where the Democratic Party Re-Union was happening and he was invited.

Bobi Wine proved there, why he has such a support and why people listen to him, as he said this:

We must remember that it will not come easy. As Nelson Mandela said, there is no easy walk to freedom. Our struggle will not be different from the others in the past. Some of us have already paid a price and we are ready, if it means paying more. Because I am convinced that freedom does not come to those who cry, but to who struggle for it. And those who struggle for it must be willing to sacrifice. Today we meet eight days after the commemoration of the Democratic Party founding father’s brutal murder by the Idi Amin regime. On 21st September 1972, Benedicto Kiwanuka was abducted from the High Court building and murdered by the regime of the time. Those who killed him thought that they had achieved it all. I am sure that day, they congratulated themselves for the work well done. Just like President Museveni has been congratulating some people for torturing us and killing our people. But the fact that we gather here today is evidence that ideas do not die. He was killed, but what he stood for could not be killed. Benedicto Kiwanuka envisioned a united country built on justice, democracy and equality. Today we are here speaking about those principles which he cherished. I have no doubt in my mind that those who oppress us today will one day go, and Uganda will be free. Our generation is called upon to step up and act” (Bobi Wine Address on 28th September 2018).

Because he speaks from the heart and he is like so many, who has been most part of his life living with the one ruler and his party. That is why he is different and knows that Museveni plans to go nowhere, as Bosco has shown no sign of succession even. Bosco cannot see, how the youths doesn’t respect him or his legacy. As the legacy and whatever he delivered, Bosco did it long time ago and the ones remembering that are either dead or advanced age. As Bobi Wine are ready for good governance and a representative government, not a military junta as off today. Which he has been tortured by and his drive killed. Also, his friends and business-partners behind bars because of his allegiance with them.

As we grew up, our parents used to tell us interesting stories. One of those stories went like this. Once upon a time, the cockerel was the king of all animals. At the time, it ruled over the lions, the tigers, the leopards, and the elephants. You can imagine a mere hen ruling over the animal kingdom. But what was its secret? It deceived other animals that its red comb was too hot. It made sure that propaganda was spread all over that if you came close to it, you would immediately burn. All animals feared it and for many years it ruled over them and made them do whatever it wanted. But one day, there was rain and it became too cold. All animals wanted fire but they hand no place to find it. So the rabbit organized a meeting and called all animals. It asked to be paid so that it would go and get fire from the cockerels’ head. When the animals had paid it, the hare went into Mr. cockerel’s house in the deep of the night. It moved very slowly and put a piece of wood on the comb of this cockerel. To its disappointment, the thing was as cold as ice. And as the story goes, that was the end of the cockerel’s kingdom. The day we understand our power, and the deception of those who rule over us, we shall free ourselves from oppression” (Bobi Wine Address no 28th September 2018).

If this story doesn’t show the signs of the future. Show the progression and also the use of tales to tell the needs for the struggle. Here is using the cockerel (rooster) as a metaphor for Bosco. As he has used his propaganda to trick people of his strength with his cockerel, which was powerless and just flair. Since the animals had believed and eaten the words of the hen. However, his powers was his propaganda and not his real strength. The same is what the people’s power needs to do and show the lies of Bosco. As his flex is bigger, than his real power. Since he has forgotten his place and his role, as he thinks he can rule all supreme and that the people shall just accept that. That is not how it works.

Bosco is the cockerel (rooster) and people have to become like all the other animals to overturn his kingdom. It is time, to use that power and show that there is alternatives, which isn’t made by the propaganda, but is within the people or all the animals as the tale is telling. This is the richness and also the grand message of Bobi Wine today. As the people have to free themselves and also calling up this generation to step up and act. That is strong words, but also needed words, as the NRM are using the military and police anytime Bobi Wine walks around. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Public Security Warning ahead of Independence Day Celebration (28.09.2018)

MTN Uganda and Mastercard diversify Mobile Money services in Uganda (25.09.2018)

Through this partnership, MTN MoMo customers will use a virtual card to shop or make payments at the vast network of global outlets accepting Mastercard payments.

KAMPALA, Uganda, September 25, 2018 – MTN Uganda (MTN.co.ug) in partnership with Mastercard (Mastercard.com) and United Bank for Africa (UBA) (UBAGroup.com) have announced a new service that will enable quicker, safer and more convenient online payments globally.  Through this partnership, MTN MoMo customers will use a virtual card to shop or make payments at the vast network of global outlets accepting Mastercard payments.

The launch of the virtual card that is known as MTN MoMocard will ensure MTN’s ability to provide its customers access to products and services previously a preserve of physical credit card holders while diversifying its mobile money portfolio. Additionally, the partnership will result in a wide range of cutting-edge digital payment solutions being introduced in Uganda.

“MTN MoMo is helping to connect more Ugandans to new forms of commerce,” said Wim Vanhelleputte, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Uganda. “Our affordable mobile financial services are positively impacting communities and lifestyles in Uganda. This is evidenced by the phenomenal growth in both the number of customers and volume of transactions over the years,” he added.

Like a debit card that is linked to a bank account, the MTN MoMocard is linked to a customer’s MTN MoMo account but is accessible on any type of mobile phone. All a customer has to do is dial 165*70# and follow the instructions.

The MTN MoMocard can be used on any merchant platform that accepts Mastercard – locally and globally. Consumers that travel frequently for business or leisure, or those that shop online will enjoy the convenience of the easy-to-use solution.

Ngozi Megwa, Vice President Market Development, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mastercard said, “Besides the ability to connect more consumers to a solution that enables them to pay without cash, the virtual card also supports the growth of e-commerce in Africa and supports businesses who want to appeal to a wider audience. Digital payments is shaping commerce, the backbone of any economy. We are excited about the MTN partnership and its ability to connect us with an audience hungry for innovation.”

The MTN MoMocard is powered by United Bank for Africa, which facilitates the payment transactions online, both locally and internationally.

“UBA is excited to be the bank partner with Mastercard and MTN on this milestone project that not only enhances convenience for mobile money customers but also the utility of the service. The bank recognises the role of technology in enhancing financial services delivery and welcomes future similar partnerships,” said Johnson Agoreyo, the UBA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

Bosco thinks he can bribe the youth of Kamwokya: So they will not join the People Power Movement!

We know that Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are scared and aware of the power, the messages and the public surge for Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. That is why Museveni isn’t participating in the United Nations General Assembly, as he is back at his farm in Rwakitura and in-general doing official business at the State House.

That is why Bosco suddenly cares for Kamwokya and Kyadondo East Constituency, as it is there where Bobi Wine first made a name and his strongholds. That is the State House is suddenly dropping off pocket-change from the Donations Budget in the Presidential Affairs there. As the State House has to try to bribe the public with donations and gifts, as they doesn’t have any clear solutions to their dire needs. The State House and government should have ensured that this sort of charity wasn’t needed, but they can do this, because the NRM has kept them poor.

Col Bantariza was in the company of State House officials who on Monday, on behalf of President Museveni, handed over support to Ghetto Youth Community at Kamwokya Passover Harvest Church. “The president has given you this money but I urge you to use it well. You have been given 100m but if you use it well, in future you will get more than that,” Col. Bantariza said” (Michael Kakumirizi – ‘Six slum groups receive State House money’ 24.09.2018, Link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Six-slum-groups-State-House-money-Museveni-Bobi-Wine/688334-4775294-j00jz/index.html).

We surely knows why these funds suddenly rains over this part of Kampala, as this was the first place with riots after the arrest and torture of Bobi Wine in August 2018. That is why the State House and Bosco is trying to pay himself out with some small donations to the public. Hoping that these minor gestures are enough to silence them. This is really to bribe them off.

Bosco thinks he is wise. If he was wise, he would have given the youth, used his three decades into power to actually create opportunities and securing their future. Instead, so many percentages are without work and without possible hire, as the gig economy and the lack possible hires.

This is the mistake of the government, they are oppressing them and tear-gassing them, but thinking they will forget that over dropping a few meals and some shillings. They are not finding solutions or trying to figure out why they are dwellers, hawkers, boda-boda drivers and whatnot. They are not ensuring their future or such. This sort of funds is just temporary, as the long-term needs are met.

That should Bosco worry about and is the reason for Bobi Wine popularity, because he wants another future for them, not just some pocket change and forget them in a years time. That is what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) does. They haven’t done this in the past, in a way, but does it everytime there is a election. Then, they give money and hope for loyalty for the donations. But now they does it when it isn’t an election. Than we know the reason. They are trying to give breadcrumbs and hope they will not riot.

They should have delivered proper government services and secured their future. That part of legislation and policies have been forgotten. Seriously, if Bosco thinks people cannot see through this BS. Than, he thinks people are stupid. Maybe he should spend more time with his cattle and leave the people be. Peace.