Plans by activists to Mobile Money operators to boycott operations in protest of new taxes on mobile money transactions has flopped in parts of Kampala after several operators ignored the call and continued operating normally throughout the day.
In areas around Kampala, (Wandegeya, Ntinda, Kamwokya and Nakulabye) mobile money operations remained normal while a handful scattered traders opted out of the business, in line with the plan, which is intended to push the government to suspend the taxes on the mobile money.
The group has since called a meeting today, to forge a way forward, on how to fight the infamous tax on mobile money and their commission. According to mobile money operators, the new tax has affected their operations as more and more people are avoiding the service.
Some of the agents claim they could neither join the strike nor the demonstration for fear of being arrested and losing money in Bail.
However, this was seen as an act of betrayal by those that decided to boycott since they had all agreed to speak with the same voice.
In the 2018/19 financial year, government increased taxes on agents’ commissions from 6 to 10 percent on every transaction.