Uganda Media Women's Association (UMWA) Call for Support

Dear Ambassadors/Donors/Colleagues

This is to announce a campaign for an exemption from paying for technical services Mama FM is benefitting from the government of Uganda. We seek your support.

Please e-mail / fax or post a petition before April 7th 2002, to:
Ministry of Finance
c/o Uganda Media Women's Association, UMWA
P.O. Box 7263
Kampala, Uganda
Fax 256-41-543 996

We have been granted 14 days by the office of the President to appeal for an exemption from the Minister of Finance starting from March 28th. When the office of the President Department of Information does not receive a written permission from the Minister of Finance by April 17th then Mama FM will have to be disconnected but a debt totalling to Ug shs 7,623,000 has to be paid, and other funds have to be found if Mama FM will have to continue transmitting.


About the Payment

On December 20th 2001, Uganda Media Women's Association, UMWA, received an invoice totalling to Ug shs 7,623,000 from the office of the President.

The amount was to cover the period July 2001 - June 2002 for technical services 'received' from government in form of tower/mast on which Mama's antenna are connected, plus the ground rent.

This was the first time we were made aware of the said costs otherwise we should have included them in the 2001 and 2002 budgets.

We have through letters, on three occasions petitioned the office of the President against the payment citing:

1. Communication gaps on the part of the responsible ministry.
   
   
2. Lack of means to pay given the fact that Mama is a community service, non-profit making station.
   
   
3. Mama FM's target is the less privileged people who cannot sustain this project.
   
   
4. Mama FM is not only donor dependent but also they were not made aware of this, requirement until only late December, 2001. This is inspite of and yet representatives from UMWA who run this project on several occasions been in touch with the Ministry responsible without the latter mentioning this requirement.
   
   
5. Mama FM is dependent on voluntary services. Only the Station Manager and a technician get a modest salary.

Below, please find reasons we find valid for the station to benefit from a waiver.

Margaret Sentamu-Masagazi
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ten reasons for tax exemption

Ten reasons we find valid for the station to benefit from a waiver:-

1. Mama FM management plus the station's donors were not aware of the said costs until December 20th, 2001. Such costs therefore, were not included in neither the 2001 nor 2002 budget. It is also unlikely that the 2003 budget will include the costs as the donors are preparing to request the government of Uganda for contribution say in kind, as a way of solving the problem.
   
   
2. Mama FM does not have or expect to find such money in the next two years as it was founded on the principle of Community Service, therefore, non profit making. Management requires at least 2 years to put in place a fully-fledged marketing department to raise funds from adverts.
   
   
3. Mama FM and indeed UMWA is complementing government's efforts as it is acting within the Ministry's mandate.
   
   
4. The primary target of Mama FM are the less privileged Ugandans who cannot sustain their own project.
   
   
5. Mama FM is complementing government's efforts. It is involved in mobilising public support and involvement in government's programs such as poverty eradication, conflict resolution and management, Universal Primary Education, Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture, observance of human rights and good governance in building a sustainable democracy, among others.
   
   
6. Mama FM is a donor-funded project and donors cannot consider costs not budgeted for.
   
   
7. Mama FM has paid for all the requirements by government including import and VAT duties. This is inspite of having requested for an exemption from government. (Foreign investors have on the contrary benefited from FM tax holidays!)
   
   
8. Mama FM is a Community Service Station providing a free service.
   
   
9. Mama FM's primary target are the less privileged and poor members of Uganda, and even if we were to request them to contribute, they would not be in position to raise the required fees, therefore, cannot sustain their own project.
   
   
10. Mama FM depends on volunteer producers and presenters who do not earn a salary. Only the station manager and technician get a salary.

Contact person:

Margaret Sentamu-Masagazi
Executive Director, UMWA
Email: umwa@utlonline.co.ug
Web: Mama FM brochure

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Last update: April-05, 2002