Tag: Social media

The president warns “jiggers” using Social Media to Cause Violence and panic

Posted on by Desiree Miller

The president of Uganda, has once again issued a warning to Social Media Users. This comes after the Member of Parliament for Arua Municipality, Hon Ibrahim Abiriga was killed. Facebook vlogger, Peng Peng and MP, Betty Nambooze were arrested, for posting offensive things on the media.

SOCIAL MEDIA BLOCKAGE

Uganda’s social media policies, have always been in the hands of the government. The sites have been blocked before, during the previous presidential elections. This was to regulate and prevent people from being misled so as to cause strikes. This time however, the president communicates that he does not want to block any of the sites. Some of these majorly include; Facebook, Watsapp, Twitter and Instagram. Read below;

“Criminals use Social media to threaten violence and create panic. We are going to acquire capacity to quickly locate criminals abusing social media. The government does not want to block these sites but we shall pick out the jiggers. We will not cut the entire foot.”

With the introduction of the tax, the use of these will also be regulated. Let us take this warning seriously.

100 shs Daily Tax To be Charged on all Social Media Users

Posted on by Deborah

From taxing Betting centers, to other activities around the country, the government is not giving up on increasing it’s revenue. After announcing that there will taxes charged on whoever is using Wats app, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other Social Media page, the amount has now been confirmed. There will be a daily charge of 100 Uganda shs worth of tax on every sim card that accesses social sites.

If you think this is worse, the government has also announced that there will be a 1 percent tax charged on every mobile money transaction. There will also be tax worth Shs100  on each litre of fuel bought. This is to aid in the maintenance of roads. Every Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (Sacco’s) must also pay 30 percent of their net profit.

Social Media Tax to be introduced
TAXES TO BE EFFECTIVE FROM 1ST JULY

These taxes have been developed to support industry, agriculture, finance and all the different sectors of the country. The State Minister for Planning, David Bahati said that these new taxes will begin to function on 1st July, once it has been approved from parliament.

The introduction of these taxes have been criticized and rebelled against by various human rights forums, and people on Social Media platforms. Many have considered it as a burden and suppression to human freedom. What do you think about this new move?

Ofwono Opondo says Taxing Social Media will push Ugandans to innovate more

Posted on by Desiree Miller

Government intention of imposing taxes on social media apps especially WhatsApp, FaceBook and Twitter has attracted a fair share of criticism. Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has defended President Museveni’s proposal saying  it’s better for citizens to come up with their own version of apps.

“President Museveni wasn’t talking about double taxing social media but his intention was to help Ugandans to make their own home based applications,” Opondo stated while appearing on Frontline Show.

“The point Museveni is making will help Ugandans make their apps. In China, the equivalent of Facebook is called Alibaba,” he added.

According to internetstats.com, Uganda has 19m internet users as per December 2017 in a population of 44m which registers and increase of 42% from 2000.

Facebook Admits that Social Media is a Threat to Democracy

Posted on by Deborah

Social Media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have often times played a big role in influencing peoples decisions, and mindsets.Is Facebook a threat to Democracy? Social Media lock down is a new practice in Uganda, especially during and before major National elections and Decision making. There are various views expressed that it usually influences people’s perceptions and opinions on certain issues. It also collects a group of rebellious people, due to the nature and amount of false news that surfaces.

Social Media platforms also post content, and make people react on only what they like or find interesting, ignoring the other. Is this healthy for democracy?

Some of our favourite Social Media platforms
FACEBOOK ADMITS

In a blog Post this week, Facebook’s product Manager, Civic engagement, Samidh Chakrabarti admitted that Social Media platforms were slow in recognizing bad actors abusing the platforms. “we’re also working harder to make it harder for bad actors to profit from the false news. Eliminating the incentive to create this content in the first place,” he added.

“While I am an optimist at heart, I am not blind to the damage that the internet can do to even a well- functioning democracy” Chakrabarti mentioned.

He also mentioned that machines fail to understand the cultural nuances of political intimidation. He added that policing the Social Media content globally is an open research problem. Chakrabarti said that Facebook is constantly working to balance the value of openness and transparency with efforts to stop manipulation.

Do you think that Social Media platforms influence the way people think and make decisions? Share your views.

Alex Muhangi clash with Diners Lounge over Money

Posted on by Desiree Miller

If you have been enjoying comedy nights at Diners Lounge, the days maybe numbered since the management is currently at logger heads with the night’s organiser comedian Alex Muhangi.

Diners management has recently come to the knowledge that Alex has been selling comedy content to NTV for millions of shillings without Diners’ knowledge or consent which gives the bar less dividends leading them to suspend the theme night for a while.

Alex who is currently in the US says he is not worried and he intends to resume with his comedy nights as soon as he returns.

We are waiting to see how this story develops and you will be the first to know.

 

 

Huddah mocks Zari in Cheating Scandal

Posted on by Desiree Miller

As we now know, the Swahili nations (Kenya and Tanzania) always stick together making Uganda feel like the new kid in school.

Well, former big brother contestant and Kenyan Socialite Huddah has come out to mock Zari’s predicament saying “A man is only yours when you are with him”

This comes after Diamond platnumz came out to apologise to Zari for cheating on her and siring a son with Tanzanian model Hamisa and promising to walk on his knees to south Africa to beg for her forgiveness.

We are yet to see the results of this given Zari also made her not so kind response to Diamond’s actions.

UCC issues warning on Social Media Usage

Posted on by Deborah

UCC has this Thursday issued a letter warning the public on the usage of social media. We will leave the letter here for you so that you can read it. The whole country however is in a confusion as to whether this act was aimed as a response to the one written by Bobi Wine, judging from the time the two letters were posted on social media sites.   We have provided the letter, and leave it up to you to decide.