There have been scenes of chaos in Uganda’s capital Kampala after police fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse protesters.
Several Ugandans have been marching in Kampala against a social media tax policy that took effect this month.
Police had targeted the MP, and popular musician, Robert Kyagulanyi, who led the protest. Local media reports he managed to escape arrest.
The protesters say the newly introduced tax is impacting negatively on the youth, many of whom are into entrepreneurship.
The tax regime affects social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook.
Uganda’s Parliament last month passed the law that imposes a tax of $0.05 daily for each social media user.
Museveni defends tax
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has already mounted a strong defense for the tax policy.
In the face of criticisms, Museveni has taken to social media platform, Facebook to explain why the tax policy is needed.
No amount of intimidation can pull us back#ThisTaxMustGo pic.twitter.com/3r4ioBrou5
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) July 11, 2018
He said users are enriching foreign-owned telecoms companies without the country’s economy benefiting.
The President said social media users are “endlessly donating money to foreign telephone companies through chatting or even lying”.
Museveni described social media as a “luxury by those who are enjoying themselves or those who are malicious…all the moral reasons are in favour of that tax”.
Down the city we go. #ThisTaxMustGo pic.twitter.com/JxZ8ccaLKY
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) July 11, 2018
Court challenge to tax Policy
The tax system is already facing a legal challenge after a group of activists filed a petition in court.
The petition filed to the constitutional court last week said the policy is awkward.
A lawyer for the petitioners, Daniel Bill Opio says the is unconstitutional.
Youths are taking on initiatives toward innovation and technology mostly using these … platforms. Once you introduce a tax … you are actually killing this budding entrepreneurship,” Opio added.
Everyone at the social media march has dispersed after police dispersed live bullets and tear gas #ThisTaxMustGo #uganda pic.twitter.com/gmrBMFR4jV
— Sumy Sadurni (@Sumy_sadurni) July 11, 2018
More than 40 percent of people use the internet in Uganda but cost of data is high like in other African countries.
Source: Africafeeds.com
