Tonight (midnight) everyone will start accessing social media sites without paying the Over The Top (OTT) tax or using encrypted connections such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

This comes after the government abolished the UGX. 200 per day OTT tax and imposed a 12 percent tax on Internet data in the FY 2021/22, which also starts on Thursday, July 1, 2021.

In a bid for government to raise revenues and curb online gossip; there was a decline in the number of internet users, with failed revenue targets, and social unrest by the year 2019 led by human rights activists and opposition politicians.

The Uganda Revenue Authority, which had set a goal of collecting UGX 284 billion ($77.8 million) from the tax was only able to collect ($13.5 million) by 2019.

According to the government statistics by the Uganda Communications Commission and Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, more than 8 million of the country’s 20 million internet subscribers were not paying the fees and the government has launched a new tax which is 12% on internet data starting the next financial year.

Government says that the new arrangement will not interfere with data used for provision of medical and education services.

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He further said that the Uganda Communications Commission has been put on notice to intensify vigilance in monitoring content broadcast on all media platforms in Uganda and to take appropriate regulatory sanctions against any errant broadcaster.

“I wish to also remind all individual journalists of their professional obligation to ensure that they execute their work in strict conformity with the Ethical Code of Conduct for journalists as enshrined in the Fourth Schedule to the Press and Journalist Act, Cap 105.”

Ogwang says that the media should not abdicate their professional duty to be responsible, accountable, and work as vanguards of peace and stability in society instead of being used as conduits for propagating unconstitutional activities by politicians. 

The Minister promised to take action against media players who glorify violence and broadcast content that has potential to incite violence.

Besides, the Media Council and the Directorate of National Guidance shall regularly monitor the ethical conduct of journalists and take remedial action to address harmful behaviours through digital civic education, community engagement, and intercultural dialogue.

The Minister reassured the country that the Joint Security agencies are prepared to counter any acts of violence and breach of the peace as planned by the perpetrators of violence and their instigators have been warned of dire consequences as 30 suspects have already been arrested and are in custody at CPS Kampala.

The public has been advised not to be intimated by the increased security deployment around the streets of Kampala Metropolitan areas in Kisekka, Kisenyi, Bwaise, Rubaga, Kawempe, Nansana, Makindye, Katwe, Mukono, and Seeta, as well as the districts of Masaka, Mityana, Mpigi, Gomba, and Butambala, among others.

Ogwang has emphasized that the men and women in uniform are under strict command and control to respect the rights of peaceful residents but decisively deal with any criminal elements.

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