Recent information has emerged that Uganda was in the process of approving a project that made possible the payment of a fee for the use of social networks in that country, and by the looks already everything is approved.
The social networking tax (OTT) in Uganda has been officially launched. Starting July 1 2018, Ugandans were forced to pay the tax if they want to access services such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and many others.
What is the reason for implementing this rate?
Second Matia Kasaija (Uganda's Finance Minister), in announcing the social media proposal said that, her government is looking for money to maintain the country's security and expand electricity so that people can enjoy more social media more often.
Although “national security” has been cited by the Ugandan government as the main reason for implementing this tax, it is worth noting that this is not the first time that reason has been invoked, remembering that the Ugandan government has even blocked platforms social media and instant messaging services during the country's previous elections only, and cited the same reason.
And the reaction of the people?
So far, Ugandans have reacted angrily and have come up with various ways to avoid taxing social networks, such as installing apps VPN and use encrypted alternatives to WhatsApp, such as the Signal application. It is also important to note how the telecommunications companies in Uganda have collaborated with the implementation and collection of the social media tax with very little or no resistance.
