Telecommunications companies at exactly 12:00am on July 1 started demanding Shs200 for one to access social media platforms daily. They also began implementing the charges on mobile money transactions. To make the situation even harder, they scrapped off the social media bundles, also known as, SWIFT. Whereas the first two were directives by the government, we’re yet to understand why telcos collaborated to phase out data package options that were making access to social media a little cheaper.
When the implementation of the above kicked off, a lot of shocking things emerged, showing how most of these telcos were unprepared to help the government collect the taxes. For instance, the mobile money service which one needs to pay for access to OTTs was inaccessible by many across all the service providers and some are yet to access it.
Secondly, the government had hoped to impose the taxes on people using VPNs but it is still possible to dodge the tax. The government may not really need to boost its IT systems since most people are already finding it hard to sustain VPNs as their data consumption rate is too high.
Related: Tumwebaze calls for dialogue as social media tax ruffles Ugandan feathers
One thing that still casts a ray of hope is a petition that is expected to be filed in the Constitutional Court on Monday to block the social media taxes; if the petitioners don’t secure an injunction to block the taxes, then, Ugandans will have no way out. At least for now.
Below are some of the reactions we picked from the three hashtags — #nodataweek and #SocialMediaTax and #MobileMoneyTax.
We are making final touches on the #SocialMediaTax Constitutional Petition. We need some more ICT lawyers to bolster the team. We shall also need some ICT experts to swear Affidavits on some technical points. In this fight, I am willing to become Uganda's Max Schrems
— Silver Kayondo (@SilverKayondo) July 1, 2018
Ugandans going through enough already. ?#SocialMediaTax pic.twitter.com/FTbnXyqwJY
— Catherine Nakawunde (@ckawunde) June 30, 2018
Did you know that the cost of keeping a VPN App running for a whole day (350MB) is at least Shs 1,000 and that #SocialMediaTax is only shs 200 per day.
NB: Normal data usage still applies as you run a VPN.
ToliMwavu
— Amako Aséga (@AmakoAsega) June 30, 2018
It’s quite shocking that the Ugandan telcos are not fighting this #socialmediatax.
— Kasabiiti (@Kasabiiti) June 30, 2018
Let’s not be hypocrites; don’t drag telecoms into your Social Media taxation satire. Your Parliament got you here. Telecoms have made enormous investment in internet infrastructure. There is no way they could watch it go down through this policy. Ugandans Sit and calm down!
— Mathias Ssemanda (@MathiasSsemanda) June 30, 2018
Take a look at the recently dismissed production of scratch cards by the same companies, ts only because they do benefit from it that's why they let it pass by the government. If u can recall what they did upon the registration process it's the same thing they would have done
— That Last Born??? (@mozey___) July 1, 2018
When @UCC_Official tried to increase Pay TV licenses, they protested as a joint body coz they knew this would affect their customers… They could have easily transferred the tax to us! The telecoms just smiled… They're are in bed with gov't. #SocialMediaTax
— Kabugo Emmanuel (@MrKabugo) June 30, 2018
Retweet this if you are in Uganda using the VPN services to enjoy Social Media today. Say no to #SocialMediaTax
— King Of East Africa ???????? (@Ugaman01) July 1, 2018
Uganda Telecom operators in bed with the Government to frustrate Ugandan internet users. So sad that we are living in such times where data is already expensive but govt goes ahead to tax users. #SocialMediaTax
— King Of East Africa ???????? (@Ugaman01) June 30, 2018
Our telecoms have violated this principle of #netneutrality by charging data differently for different users, platforms, content etc. Shame on you @mtnug @Airtel_Ug @africellUG
NO #SocialMediaTax #NoDataWeek @Jude_Mugabi @NihadElAabedy @AJEnglish @Ugaman01 @SilverKayondo— Daniel Bill Opio?? (@BillOpio) June 30, 2018
#socialmediatax may result into →
↓ number of social media users
↓ overall data usage
↓ Internet penetration
↓ social media advertising
↓ telco profits
↓ more expensive data bundles
↓ ease of doing business
↓ adverse effect on the economy #Uganda— Dave Bik (@davebik) June 30, 2018
Do not be afraid, we can win this battle.
Say no to #SocialMediaTax, say yes to #NoDataWeek pic.twitter.com/yMxGH6kZCA— King Of East Africa ???????? (@Ugaman01) June 30, 2018
Blame your area MP if affected by 'Social Media Tax'.
MPs ('legislators') are the ones who pass laws such as the Excise Duty Amendment Act 2018 which introduces tax on social media on 1st July 2018.
Any criticism of the telecos (MTN, Airtel or Africell) or URA is unfair!
— The Ugandan Lawyer (@UgandanLawyer) June 30, 2018
How the Uganda government is looking at the #SocialMediaTax and #MobileMoneyTax. ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/XNrrupzLLF
— King Of East Africa ???????? (@Ugaman01) June 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/_mwes/status/1013165858171088896
https://twitter.com/_mwes/status/1013176329490108416
https://twitter.com/BillOpio/status/1012960916256755713
How much would telecoms loose if we actually went on with #NoDataWeek. How do we mobilize to hit them where it hurts. In the profit margin. Because telecoms should have been fighting this even more than the people instead of hiding under govt directive. What have they done?
— Ogutu Daudi (@iamogutudaudi) June 30, 2018
Actions planned against this #SocialMediaTax
1. Going to courts of law
2. #Nodataweek campaign
3. Petitioning the President
4. Others to be announced soon.— King Of East Africa ???????? (@Ugaman01) June 30, 2018
Would you participate in the #NoDataWeek campaign as a counter measure against #socialmediatax ??
*******Vote And RT******
— Iribagiza David ?? (@Owomunshozi) June 30, 2018
Tomorrow we are going back to the basics ….sms and letters??
Personally i find letters to be so romantic #NoDataWeek pic.twitter.com/KUtl3j9oaK— B.U.S.O ?? (@wyclif_henry18) June 30, 2018
200shs * 7 =1,400shs
1,400shs * 4 =5,600shs
5,600shs * 12 =67,200
Too costly for something that's supposed to be our fundamental rightIf only it was meant to improve our facilities e.g hospitals
But its probably going to buy government officials posh cars#NoDataWeek— MAFUMBO MARVIN? (@marvinmafumbo) June 30, 2018
I'm going to make sure I first borrow a lot of AT. Simanya beerako. What what. Then I stop buying. Tulabbe Airtel wetadeyo mu India#NoDataWeek pic.twitter.com/wNZoVnWmGG
— Aine Derrick (@hotniqqha) June 30, 2018
Shoutout to all you digital marketers who will no longer be able to target Ugandan users since they’re all traveling. If you buy media for the president, let him know. ? #Ifyouknowyouknow @babirukamu @MathiasSsemanda #SocialMediaTax
— Albert Mucunguzi (@albertmuc) July 1, 2018
The way am waiting for 12:01am to see if the #socialmediatax Was validated, only God knows pic.twitter.com/4e0kj4EPKQ
— Katende Erick (@FrostProUg) June 30, 2018
Everyone is busy complaining about #SocialMediaTax yet #Mobilemoneytax is also on its way to July 1st as you will only buy ur Yaka tokens using Payway which is also taxed if you wish to avoid the 1% #ThisisUganda
— Humphrey (@mjhumphrey4) June 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/Olaraa/status/1013336014088105984
You will soon hear them speak at international conferences using phrases like "We would like to see connectivity reach the last mile", "Social Media helps in accountability by monitoring and tracking leaders" and yet at home we are being subjected to #socialmediatax #Uganda
— Agena (@maureenagena) June 30, 2018
P. O. Box 9117 Kampala. If you know you know.
— Daniel Kalinaki (@Kalinaki) June 30, 2018
