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The deadline for selling airtime scratch cards expires today 31st July, 2018 and anybody found selling scratch cards faces arrest for violating a Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) directives, with effect tomorrow.
Check also: Transfer Taxes On Cigarettes And Alcohol Instead Of Social Media And Mobile Money – UPC
UCC director of corporate affairs( Fred Otunnu) said, we don’t expect to see anybody selling airtime scratch cards with effect from Wednesday.
Otunnu adds,the fear that the access to airtime will be limited does not arise, so one either use mobile money or contact a vendor who will do it freely. The cards should have been implemented in February, but telecoms requested for some time to clear the stock, hence granted.
These were agreed upon in a different sectors including the internal affairs ministry, security agencies among others, besides UCC and telecom companies will sensitize customers on the new advancement.
Banning of scratch cards!
Around march, UCC banned the sale of scratch cards and replaced them with advanced means(electronic) such as online dealers and mobile money.This was done to prevent crimes caused by unregistered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards and the open sale of airtime.
The general public is hereby informed that UCC has banned the use of scratch cards with effect from July 31st and retailers were given a period of time up to today to stop the distribution and selling of scratch cards. Therefore, the unused and unsold stock are to be returned back to the distributors for compensation by the airtime retailers. Apparently, UCC sector is undergoing a technological revolution from analogue to advanced digital migration.
By the end of December 2017, there were 25 million mobile money subscribers with about 23.4 million (93.6%) with active mobile money accounts, and amongst those majority (94%) can access mobile wallet, the remaining 6.2% users without mobile wallet can either use mobile money agencies or operator dealer shops in nearby areas.
Telecom reaction
Some telecom professionals were prepared for the change “We had launched a campaign to encourage our clients to use electronic recharge by giving whoever uses e-recharge a 50% bonus of airtime up to the end of August”, said Airtel PR manager, Suminah Namaganda, whereas MTN’s Val Oketch (PRO) said the ongoing momo nyabo promotion is intended to create awareness and encourage customers to use e-recharge. Through this exercise, a number of customers won motorcars and other tokens.
Anxiety
However much this exercise has been inflicted on people by the UCC with hood intentions, there are still lots of questions and complaints from the customers;
1). What will happen to the customers who are not registered with mobile money and not planning to register soon?
2). How will customers in remote areas without operator dealer shops access or carry out this exercise?
3). If this has been encouraged to develop people from analogue to digital, is UCC having plans of teaching customers more about this new development?
4). What are the merits and demerits of this advancement?
5). For how long will this advancement take?
Although above and more complaints are arising, UCC expects its customers to abide by the development ethics.
Check also;
- Government Approves Reduction Of Mobile Money Transaction Tax
- Museveni Ordered Telecom Companies To Reimburse 1% Mobile Money To Owners
- Ugandans To Pay 1% On All Mobile Money Transactions
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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)
