A tax regime for using social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook takes effect in Uganda.
Uganda’s Parliament last month passed a law that imposes a tax of $0.05 daily for each social media user starting from this month.
The controversial law affects users of all social media platforms accessing the internet.
Government’s justification
The government of Uganda says the latest move is part of plans to raise revenue.
The country’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija had said 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.
Angry reactions
Local media reports that many Ugandans are turning to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the new social media tax regime.
Using A VPN helps internet users to redirect their internet activity to a computer in a different country.
This is how the government of Uganda is looking for Ugandans who are online via VPN #SocialMediaTax pic.twitter.com/eIvuQx2lxy
— Dennis Nyambane™ (@ItsNyambane) July 1, 2018
I totally forgot about this social media tax In uganda and now I’m out here using a VPN just to use WhatsApp??#uganda
— Lorenzo Baitwa (@Bait_kid09) July 1, 2018
YKM may have been right that the #SocialMediaTax is a gossip tax. Since yesterday many accounts on the TL are debating policy – asking ways to hold the government to account. Perhaps a good side effect of this tax is to nudge folks into a better political consciousness #Uganda
— Angelo Izama (@Opiaiya) July 2, 2018
Friends in #Uganda: Kindly ask the goodhearted missionary from America or well-meaning NGO in your community to pay your #SocialMediaTax and #MobileMoneyTax. Tell them a good story about oppression or education. I’m sure they’ll immediately plan a fundraiser or sponsorship.
— Michael Kirkpatrick ? (@OtimMichael) July 1, 2018
High tax regime actually undermines tax revenues, coz number of taxpayers dwindles; it undermines investment and job creation! We must stop Uganda’s crazy taxes of 2018/2019! #TUBALEMESE@Parliament_Ug @mofpedU @ntvuganda @nbstv @DailyMonitor @observerug @BBCAfrica @CNNAfrica pic.twitter.com/MCH2oYs2go
— Kifefe Kizza-Besigye (@kizzabesigye1) July 1, 2018
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. It is also considered an attempt to suppress their ability to express themselves on platforms that are beyond the control of the government.
Source: Africafeeds.com
