There was drama on Thursday morning after mobile money agents protested the new tax and attempted to petition Speaker Rebecca Kadaga over the same.
The mobile money agents under their umbrella Kampala Mobile Money Agents Association attempted to march to Parliament in a bid to petition Speaker Kadaga. However, the agents were chased like chicken thieves by Parliamentary police led by SP Annabella Nyiramahoro, the commandant of the Parliamentary Police Directorate.
On getting information that the agitated agents who were carrying placards were approaching parliament along parliamentary avenue, SP Nyiramahoro mobilized her force who dispersed the mob never to be seen again. Apparently, scored have been arrested over the same.
On May 30, Parliament passed the controversial Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2018 that among others imposes a daily Shs200 tax on social media and 1% levy on any transactions on mobile money. This 1% levy on any transactions on mobile money has raise a public outcry forcing President Yoweri Museveni to recall the new tax whose implementation started in July 01. Museveni in his Wednesday statement said that the 1% levy on mobile money is a miscommunication adding that it is supposed to be 0.5% not 1%.
Parliament is expected to be recalled from recess to review the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2018 particularly the mobile money tax.
