Uganda's Social Media Tax: A Failed Experiment?
The Story
In July 2018, the government of Uganda introduced a tax of Shs 200 per day to access social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter. This was called the “Over-The-Top” (OTT) or “social media” tax. The government promoted it as a necessary revenue measure and a tool to curb “online gossip.”
Perspective
According to The Observer, which published a report on the tax, the policy has been a “failed experiment that stifled Uganda’s digital economy.” The outlet states this assessment comes eight years after the tax was introduced.
Why This Matters
The matter is significant because the tax was implemented to generate revenue and influence online communication. The Observer's report labels it a failure, indicating it did not achieve its intended goals and instead negatively impacted the country's digital economic growth.
What's Next
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