The Parliament of Uganda has passed a law that imposes a tax of $0.05 daily for each user of internet messaging service WhatsApp starting from July this year.
The controversial law which was passed on Wednesday will also affect user of Facebook and other social media platforms after the government hinted of such a law coming into place two months ago.
The government of Uganda said the latest move is part of plans to raise revenue with the country’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija telling Reuters in March that each mobile phone subscriber using platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook would be charged $0.027 per day (200 Ugandan shillings).
“We’re looking for money to maintain the security of the country and extend electricity so that you people can enjoy more of social media, more often, more frequently,” Kasaija said.
More than 40 percent of people use the internet in Uganda but cost of data is high like in other African countries.
About 23.6 million people out of Uganda’s 41 million population use mobile phones and 17 million use the internet.
The latest move is considered an attempt to prevent people from using social media and suppress their ability to express themselves on platforms that are beyond the control of the government.
Mobile money transactions are also to be taxed, with a 1% levy on the total value of each transaction.
Source: Africafeeds.com
