Last week the Government regulatory body of the communications sector; Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) released a notice regarding the extension of banning airtime scratch cards sale and distribution to July 31st, 2018, in favor of electronic points such as Mobile Money, Easy Load, PayWay, Mula App, Pebuu, any other electronic payment option that would allow customers purchase airtime.
Currently the scratch cards are phasing out gradually. Last weekend, areas around Salaama, Munyonyo, Kikoni (areas of Makerere), Nakawa, Mbuya, Bugolobi, Kamwookya, to mention a few were reported not be selling airtime scratch cards.
It is worth noting that, UCC advised all retailers to return unused and unsold stock of airtime scratch cards to their distributor or stockists and get compensated. And if anyone is found selling or distributing cards past the deadline given, they would face punishment from the authorities. However, the punishment to such an act was not mentioned.
While we shall be able to purchase airtime via Mobile Money, it is also worth noting that customers shall be charged the mobile money tax – a tax that was on May 30th 2018, passed by the Government of Uganda into law – the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Customers will be charged 1% tax at the time of purchase. However, the President; Museveni, said in a statement that the charge is supposed to be half of the 1%, meaning 0.5%. But, customers still claim they’re still being charge 1%, where he responded quote “I signed the law with error because we couldn’t delay the other measures. However, when the parliament reconvenes, they will be requested to correct it. The ones whose deduction had been made on the basis of 1% should have their money reimbursed.”
We shall keep you posted here at Flash Uganda media.
By Paul Wetaase
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