Uganda: street messages to denounce the tax on social networks

Ugandan activists opposed to a tax on the use of social networks spread messages in the streets of Kampala encouraging people not to pay, resulting in intervention by law enforcement officials, have we learned Tuesday with witnesses and the police

"Do not pay the tax on social networks and money transfers by mobile phone.This affects your wallet and pushes us to poverty", could we hear According to witnesses, in this message broadcast by loudspeakers in several places frequented the Ugandan capital.

Police intervened Monday to try to stop these messages. "On Monday, the police confiscated the loudspeakers in Kampala," said his spokesman Emilian Kayima, without being able to comment on the situation Tuesday but warning that those responsible would be unmasked.

Since the beginning of the month, users social networks must pay a daily fee of 200 shillings per day (0.04 euro) to access WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, as well as dating sites like Tinder or Grindr.

This tax has been denounced as a barrier to freedom of expression by many opposition politicians and members of civil society. Earlier this month, the police violently cracked down on a protest against this tax.

Donati Kusemererwa, 53, a shopkeeper in the Kikuubo district of Kampala, told AFP he discovered one of these loudspeakers on Tuesday. near his store.

"When we got to work today (Tuesday), we found the speakers near the main door saying: + We do not pay the tax on social networks", has

"The voice on the message says that people should protest the taxes imposed on us by the government," he added.

A mechanic, Nelson Wabwire, 31 years, said that other facilities of the same type were found in several parts of the capital and disassembled by the police.

"Now people are afraid to be identified because the police are brutal.They prefer to do that discreetly, "he said.