Newslex Point News in Uganda, Uganda news
With effect from tomorrow (Thursday), Ugandans will access internet services and social media without OTT or the use of VPNs.
A good number of people protested the payment of the tax hence resorting to the use of Virtual Private Networks. These VPNs are capable of bypassing the blockages on social media thereby allowing one to use it without the OTT tax.
It is, however, not all beds and roses even though the over the top tax has been abolished by the government.
This is because it has imposed a 12% tax on internet data bundles in the new financial year which will start tomorrow, Thursday, July 1, 2021.
The 11th parliament abolished the OTT tax in the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act, 2021, and replaced it with excise duty on internet data.
When it came into existence in 2018, it caused a nationwide uproar and protests in Kampala led by Robert Kyagulanyi.
Following the uproar, the government proposed to drop the tax, saying Uganda Revenue Authority failed to hit the tax collection target from OTT.
That failed to happen because Ugandans resorted to the use of VPNs in order to bypass the government tax.
URA said in 2019 they had collected only Shs49.5 billion out of the targeted Shs284 billion from OTT for the financial year 2018/2019; a shortfall of 83%.
Check also;
- Parliament Drops OTT Tax, Introduces New Tax On Data Bundles
- Why Social Media Wipes Out Other Media Platforms Today
- India Tightens Regulations On Social Media Companies
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
