Skip to main content

Uganda Government Slaps New 12% Tax on Airtime and Data Bundles, Effective from 1-July-2021.



The Ministry of Finance has slapped a harmonized excise duty rate of 12% on airtime, value-added services and internet data as substitute for Uganda’s controversially approved Over The Top (OTT) tax.

‘‘Some tax policy interventions to be implemented in FY2021/22 include rationalizing the excise duty regime on telecommunication services,’’ state minister for finance and economic planning,  Mr Amos Lugoloobi told MPs as he presented the 2021/22 national budget tailored towards industrialization for inclusive growth, employment and wealth creation.

However, the newly levied taxes that take effect July 1 will exclude access to data for internet portals providing medical and education services.

Introduced in 2018, OTT tax sought to regulate access to microblogging and social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook but was fiercely welcomed with massive protests and rejection.

According to Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), over 7.5million internet users shunned the tax and instead opted for a Virtual Private Network (VPN), this- painting uncertainty over how tax compliance of over 21 million internet users in Uganda will be achieved. 

Contentiously approved on May 7 by the 10th Parliament, critics and experts say the taxes-now- levied on telecommunication services will cripple e-commerce and fundamental freedoms.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

We Bring You Brief Series of Sanctions Against Uganda Government Officials.

📸: Gen Abel Kandiho. On 9-December-2021, USA slapped sanctions against the then CMI Commander Gen Abel Kandiho. 📸: Gen Kale Kayihura. On 9-December-2022, UK slapped sanctions against former Police Boss Gen Kale Kayihura. 📸: Commissioner General of Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija. Again on this 4-December-2023, the same USA has slapped sanctions against Uganda Prisons Commander Johnson Byabashaija over alleged torture and human rights abuses in Prisons across Uganda. We ask, has USA and UK made December as an LCM to slap sanctions against high ranking government officials in Uganda even when the sanctions just remain on paper without deeper investigations to ascertain logical conclusions or remedy to that effect ?. #iip_updates  #Information_is_Power  #we_inform_the_uninformed

How to Host a Website for Free From Your PC or Laptop.

Why pay for a web hosting service when your old computer can do the same thing? Learn how to self-host your site. If you're planning to launch a website but don't want to pay recurring monthly or annual hosting fees, you can use any old laptop or desktop PC to host a website for free. It's a great way to utilize your old system instead of throwing it away. In this guide, we will install and set up services on our 10-year-old laptop to host a WordPress, Joomla, or custom HTML or PHP-based website with a free SSL certificate. MAKEUSEOF VIDEO OF THE DAY Things You Will Need to Host a Website Following are the pre-requisites to host a website for free from home with just your computer: An old laptop or PC running Ubuntu Server. A registered domain name for your website Ethernet cable to connect the laptop or PC to router for reliable and fast connection Step 1: Update and Upgrade the Packages After  installing Ubuntu Server on your computer , execute the following c...

WHERE IS MINISTER OF SEX SIMON LOKODO?. (He deserves a battle of soda from me! Ministe`r esalanga mabee. He is quick to run after Mrs Dr Stella Nyanzi and other Opposition elements. Government aza aza edo zuu vaa kpere bua). Anyway, below is the article! POLICE OFFICER AKOL ESTHER CHARGED OF BEING A PUBLIC NUISANCE Naughty Officer Officer who embarrassed police after leaking nude photo charged 13.03.2018 She serves in the 'Very Important Persons Protection Unit'  Akol Esther  (Courtesy) A female police officer whose nude photo surfaced on social media has been charged of being a public nuisance. Akol Esther serves in the Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VIPPU) of the police force. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire says Akol Esther might be demoted or expelled from the police force if found guilty of circulating nude photos. Police court is yet to announce date when Akol Esther is expected to appear for a hearing. This comes at a time when Pornography Control Committee is taking tough measures against persons circulating pornography content. The committee warned and promised to arrest persons who will circulate pornographic content.

POLICE OFFICER AKOL ESTHER CHARGED OF BEING A PUBLIC NUISANCE Naughty Officer Officer who embarrassed police after leaking nude photo charged 13.03.2018 She serves in the 'Very Important Persons Protection Unit' Akol Esther  (Courtesy) A female police officer whose nude photo surfaced on social media has been charged of being a public nuisance. Akol Esther serves in the Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VIPPU) of the police force. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire says  Akol Esther might be demoted or expelled from the police force if found guilty of circulating nude photos . Police court is yet to announce date when Akol Esther is expected to appear for a hearing. This comes at a time when Pornography Control Committee is taking tough measures against persons circulating pornography content. The committee warned and promised to arrest persons who will circulate pornographic content.