Social networking users in this country will pay tax from July 1st

Uganda's Parliament has adopted the law establishing the tax on people using social media platforms. It's a $305 fee for people using Facebook, whatsapp, Viber and Titter.

President Yoerer Musveni wanted these changes made, arguing that social media encouraged gossip. The law will go into effect on July 1st, but it remains to be seen how it will be implemented. The new excise task will impose various taxes, including 1% on mobile money, which civil society groups complain will affect the poorest people who rarely use banking services.

Uganda's Finance Minister David Bahati said in parliament that tax hikes were necessary to help the state pay its debt.