Ugandans furious over new tax on social media
The Ugandan government has opted to implement a tax on social media, which has angered many citizens across the country.
When I first heard about this, I thought it was a joke, but it’s real, and Ugandans are up in arms about it because they see it as an attack on free speech.
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Imagine having to pay to use Facebook, Twitter, and even WhatsApp? Seems crazy, right? Well, this has become a reality for Ugandans after the government announced a tax on the use of social media. According to the BBC, the tax will amount to 200 Uganda shilling (about R0,71 cents).
The tax is said to help with an additional revenue stream into the country. Although the figure does not seem a lot, it does add up when you look at the number of people who consume social media in the country. News24 reports that over 17-million people in Uganda are active internet and social media users.
Many residents are up in arms and took to Twitter to share their views and memes on the tax.
I see people online but no money yet, what's going on? 😂 #SocialMediaTax pic.twitter.com/ynZMhV8x7K
— Mwes M Drew™ (@_mwes) June 30, 2018
Uganda is a joke!! #SocialMediaTax
— Sheilah C Gashumba (@SheilahGashumba) June 30, 2018
successfully paying your monthly #SocialMediaTax only to be online alone because your friends haven’t paid yet 😭😭😭😂😂 pic.twitter.com/hqvLex86Dl
— Janzy (@Joab_Ijuka) June 28, 2018
Imagine staying in a country where the dollar is at 3800 n some1 still has the audacity to tax u for a service they dont offer, own, or improve in anyway🙆♀️😫 #SocialMediaTax 😣 pic.twitter.com/evsiABCwuq
— Sharuah Hersun K (@HerLazyHighness) June 29, 2018
While the rest of the world is moving forward aggressively with technology advancements and better internet access for all, Uganda is wondering what the Stone Age looks like.#SocialMediaTax
— Solomon King (@solomonking) June 30, 2018
As always, there's a workaround. Ugandans are making use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to avoid paying the tax, which basically means that they are accessing the internet as if they were in another country.
Read: Be careful what you send and circulate on social media!
How would you feel about paying a tax on social media if it were implemented in South Africa?