After successfully exposing the rot in Ugandan politics, cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo has launched yet another war: The Data Theft Exhibition. Just like the previous exhibition, confessions are being made via X, the currently most popular elite social platform in Uganda.
The trending hashtag is #DataTheftExhibition
Why is the Data Theft Exhibition happening?
For a very long time, Airtel and MTN Uganda have been under scrutiny for the protocols they use to count internet bundles. Back in the 2010s, this was not a concern either because most people didn’t own smartphones or they spent less time online. However, as people started using smartphones for more crucial purposes, they realized that Ugandan internet was unusually expensive.
When did Ugandan internet bundles get extremely expensive
In 2018, Over The Top tax (OTT) was introduced in order to access all Meta (then Facebook) services. These included Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Users were supposed to pay 200/= every single day they needed to access social media. Unfortunately, for UCC, people discovered that using VPN apps bypassed the restrictions. Later on, the data tax was lifted, and people could access all social media platforms normally except Facebook, which was completely banned.
Fast forward, there have always been rumors that the taxes are still embedded in the internet bundles. This can be explained by the fact that when one buys Airtel or MTN internet, it cannot complete a download of its own quantity.
Celebrities who complained about fast data depletion
To shed light on how serious this issue is, it does not only affect low-income earners. In 2023, we saw several celebrities like Azawi and Bebe Cool call out these internet providers for unscrupulous depletion of their purchased internet.
In 2020, the Monitor published a story which proved that Uganda had the most expensive internet bundles. A similar report (2024) said that East Africa has the slowest internet in the whole world.
This leaves serious questions unanswered. For example, why is Ugandan internet extremely expensive for the average person with such poor standards? The essence of making things expensive should be to make them more reliable. Unfortunately, for Ugandan internet, you will often encounter challenges at some hours or during certain weather conditions.
How expensive are Ugandan internet data bundles?
So, that’s the part where the average Ugandan is left with no option but to refer to it as theft. Most Ugandans are youth who live a hand-to-mouth lifestyle. This means that anything above 1 Dollar per day will seriously drain them. The fact that the internet has become a part of our daily lives means that it needs to be as seamlessly affordable as possible.
Response to the Data Theft Exhibition On X
In their defense, telecommunication companies claim that people need to monitor their data usage to understand why their data bundles get finished. For instance, some people complain that their monthly data bundles hardly make it to the end of their first week. In response, Airtel unraveled a tool in their app that allows one to monitor their data usage.
A statement from MTN and Airtel on the Data Theft Exhibition
We contacted David Birungi, the Public Relations officer at Airtel Uganda. However, he chose to refer us to his recent revelation in this Monitor Article. We then had to approach Martin Sebuliba from MTN. The yellow network responded formally, “We are aware of the planned exhibition and are ready to address any specific information needs that our customers raise. Rest assured that MTN is committed to providing products and services that address the communication needs of our customers because we believe everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected world. We’ll keep you updated with responses to any specific queries that might arise during the exhibition.”
What does UCC say?
The Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Thembo Nyombi, acknowledged the frustration. He outlined steps for consumers to take action:
“If you encounter discrepancies with your data usage, the first step is to contact your telecom provider directly and file a formal complaint. As part of your complaint, you can request a comprehensive data usage audit for the period,” Nyombi continued. “This audit provides a clear record of your data consumption, helping to identify any inconsistencies or errors.”
We are yet to see the direction this new X trend is going to take. There are just so many perspectives people have given concerning the issue of internet depletion.
Below are some tweets from the exhibition
