According to the directive, OTT service include all applications or Apps that offer voice and messaging services over the internet. Over 50 services including Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram, Skype, LinkedIN will be affected. President Museveni proposed the taxes earlier this year to cub on Lugambo or gossip among social media users. A total revenue of about Ugx 400 billion to Ugx 1.4 trillion is expected to be collected from social media users annually. The social media tax follows yet another 1% excise duty on mobile money transactions which was passed last month. Related post: Uganda Gov’t to tax Mobile Money & Social Media starting 1st July 2018
MTN Uganda announcement on Facebook page
Airtel Uganda announcement on Facebook page
Africell Uganda announcement
Related post: What are Over the top (OTT) services?
How pay the OTT/Social media tax
Mobile subscribers are expected to pay the tax via various Mobile money platforms. No charge will be levied on the transactions. You will be charged 1% excise duty on the Mobile Money transaction required to pay the OTT Tax. That means you will effectively have to pay Ugx 202 in total per day
18525# for Airtel 16525# (MTN) 1336# (Africell EVC) 1442*5# (Africell Money).
