Uganda to review its new social media tax after public outcry and protests
Kampala — Uganda will review a tax on the use of social media, the prime minister said on Wednesday, after a protest against the controversial measure was broken up by police firing live rounds and tear gas into the air.Prime minister Ruhakana Rugunda told parliament that President Yoweri Museveni had "encouraged further discussion" on the fiercely-contested levy. "Government is now reviewing the taxes, taking into consideration the concerns of the public" and an amended bill will be debated on July 19, Rugunda said.Since the start of July, access to social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, as well as dating sites Tinder and Grindr, have been blocked unless users pay a 200-shilling (US5c) daily tax.Last week, Museveni had defended the move, saying many citizens did not pay their taxes as they ought to, and should not "donate money to foreign companies through chatting or even lying" on social media.In its current form, tax requires mobile internet users to input a code o...
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