What seemed to be a joke has come to pass. Telecommunication companies MTN, Airtel and Africell are set to implement the Social Media Taxes that were proposed by President Yoweri Museveni and the Government of Uganda.
In a press release issued by the three companies, they will be implementing the new taxes in just a few days.
Social Media usage will require a daily payment of Uganda Shillings 200 or weekly payment of Uganda Shillings 1,400 or a monthly payment of Uganda Shillings 6,000, according to the release by the three giant telecommunication companies.
The taxes are classified as Over The Top (OTT) Services, which implies sites that offer voices and messaging over the internet.
They go on to notify the public that this will take effect on 1st July 2018 which is about seven days from now.
The Social Media tax originated from concerns by President Yoweri Museveni that many Ugandans were misusing social media, spreading malicious lies and appearing more for leisure activities than actual productive work. There was furore in the public when the president mentioned plans to initiate these taxes.
The taxes will be different from the normal cost of data.
