Good morning. This is a recap of stories that triggered debate and discussions across multiple platforms this past week and got featured in our reporting.
As the country continues to deal with the controversial mobile money and social media taxes, a lot is being done, with one side wanting it scrapped and the other, which wants it to stay, is looking for ways to see that it is charged in a citizen-friendly way.
A petition has already been filed in the constitutional court and the petitioners are still awaiting the court registrar to fix a date for hearing. President Yoweri Museveni in the middle of last week also weighed in with a longwinded statement, defending the taxes. He, however, revealed that telecom companies should be charging 0.5% for transactions made on mobile money, instead of 1%.
Electronic manufacturers get support from Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni has assured a company that deals in electronics assembling and distribution that he will give them all the support they need in order to realise their goals. Meanwhile, the ICT Ministry also held a consultative meeting this past week to formulate a policy that will guide Uganda as it moves to manufacture and assemble electronics.
Must Read: Tech events to look out for this coming week
KCCA unveils innovation competitions, faces resistance
Kampala Capital City Authority has rolled out innovation competitions which will attract participation from students and graduates. The Authority was however put under fire by some section of social media users who criticized some of the terms and conditions that were listed as exploitative, prompting the Authority to revise them.
Telecommunications giant MTN Uganda is the middle of a tough situation after news emerged this week that their data center was searched by agents from the Internal Security organization. Security agents are yet to break their silence on the matter, which is currently being handled by police and Uganda Communications Commission. A video footage showing the agents at the facility has also been released.
Government rolls out eLearning platform
National Information Technology Authority revealed this past week that a new platform has been introduced on the eCitizens portal where Ugandans can go and get free access to wide-ranging content. The Authority alongside UNESCO also hosted a workshop about inclusive ICTs, which is a big step towards promoting the involvement of people with special needs in digital transformation.
Related:
June in Uganda: Technology developments you could have missed
Digital firm eases registration of domain names in Africa
EU countries resort to mobile phone surveillance to deport refugees
Perspective: Legal Tech in Uganda, a sector on the rise
