Ugandans react to new ‘dictatorial’ social media tax

As of July 1, 2018, Ugandans are officially required to pay tax in order to access various social media platforms, and most of them have not taken the news well.

This comes after President Yoweri Museveni pushed for new laws to curb social media activities in the country saying it encourages gossip.

The Uganda Parliament last month passed the controversial laws and a notice was published on the country’s media informing the general public of the new taxes on Over The Top (OTT) services such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram, Skype, LinkedIn etc.

The new charges are Ushs.200 (Ksh.5.24) daily, Ushs.1400 (Ksh. 36.71) weekly and Ushs.6,000 (Ksh. 157.31) monthly.

Taking to Twitter under the hashtag #SocialMediaTax, Ugandans expressed dissatisfaction at the new laws terming them as dictatorial and meant to silence them.

Popular Ugandan musician A Pass said; “We already have so much taxation with out representation and you have put taxes on app you didn’t build, forcing us to pay an illegal tax because you think it’s good for us.”

Below are some of the reactions to the new Ugandan laws;

Haha… State! You are powerful. I woke up on a blank screen. I’ve just entered #SocialMediaTax payment digits, as soon as I authorized the 6k…boooom, back on. Well, be ready to account for every penny we pay. This tax will help Uganda improve fiscal discipline, watch the space

— Ramathan Ggoobi (@rggoobi) July 1, 2018

jokes aside,
200/= per day amounts to 73000/= annually
recent stats show 17m internet users in Ug.
let's say 15m are using social media. => 15m x 73000/=
=> 1.095 trillion UGX
A cancer machine is $3m
that would equate to 92 new machines.#socialmediatax

— I was lit when I (@MumpeMichael) June 28, 2018

Still on #SocialMediaTax:
This has shown us that the Government can actually implement policies.

They communicated it would take effect on 1st July and at exactly 12:00, it happened.

This goes to show that our Governement deliberately refuses to implement other policies .

— Elizabeth Kemigisha (@elayzabeth) July 1, 2018

Y'all remember when you used to say, "Why is this app for free?"

Good times#socialmediatax

— Little Hansel (@little_hansel) June 30, 2018

When your crush finally replies your text but to read it you have to pay#SocialMediaTax pic.twitter.com/sPJKarreRs

— Jamirah N Mubiru (@jayMubiru) June 29, 2018

https://twitter.com/Joab_Ijuka/status/1012402358813364225

Data is already taxed, now socialmedia is also taxed.. I'm leaving Uganda for any country with free twitter #SocialMediaTax pic.twitter.com/42wCzwt5wl

— Mwes M Drew™ (@_mwes) June 29, 2018

How I look at my phone after paying my #SocialMediaTax and someone says "send send" pic.twitter.com/tYcks6kqxo

— ½ man ½ kambere (@KambereKevin) June 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/Joab_Ijuka/status/1013026258404433920

Uganda is a joke!! #SocialMediaTax

— Sheilah C Gashumba (@SheilahGashumba) June 30, 2018