URA Seeks to Expand Social Media Tax to Mobile Data

The Uganda Revenue Authority has proposed shifting existing "Over-the-Top" taxes, commonly referred to as the "social media tax" in Uganda, to a tax encompassing Internet data packages due to lower than expected revenues suspected to be primarily the result of evasion practices by mobile subscribers using virtual private networks (VPNs). The substantial drop in Internet subscribers since the tax was imposed has highlighted concerns about the disproportionate burden borne by the poorest members of society and Uganda Internet and Communications Technology Policy to provide for affordable access.