Why lawyer Nicholas Opiyo has not yet paid #socialmediatax

Lawyer Opiyo is using VPN to access social media. PHOTO NOPIYO FACEBOOK

Nicholas Opiyo, a leading human rights lawyer, has explained why many Ugandans like him have opted not to pay the social media tax.

In a facebook post, via a Virtual Private Network VPN, Opiyo argued that "the principle is not that we do not want to support the government to provide services. We just do not want to pay taxes to buy the minister huge cars while our road networks are either bad or killing hundreds; we do not want to pay money to enable the minister to get medical treatment outside Uganda when our national hospitals are collapsing and health centres have no drugs, the arguments goes on an on and the list is long."

Uganda's ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze defied critics of a controversial tax on social media on Tuesday and insisted the compulsory sh200  daily levy to use sites like whatsapp, Twitter and Facebook would continue.

Since the start of July, access to social media networks, as well as dating sites Tinder and Grindr, has been blocked unless users pay a 200 shilling ($0.05, 0.04 euro) daily tax.

Parliament will vote on the proposals today July 19, but Opiyo shot back (see 4 points bottom).

Opiyo's logic:

1. Most VPNs are open source technologies. They are largely free to download on various sites. Dr Ham Muliira (former ICT minister) would get this. 
2. The principle is not that we do not want to support the government to provide services. We just do not want to pay taxes to buy the minister huge cars while our road networks are either bad or killing hundreds; we do not want to pay money to enable the minister to get medical treatment outside Uganda when our national hospitals are collapsing and health centres have no drugs, the arguments goes on an on and the list is long.
3. The broader aim should be to enable more access to the internet and social media. It has a multiplier effect on the economy - more young people create jobs, sell products that feed the economy. In fact, you will raise more revenue from increased access to the internet and social media in the long run. It is the same logic that Frank used when he sold the idea of internet access zones (never mind that it was hot air). 
4. From a security perspective, it helps traceability as all users leave digital footprints. 

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BREAKING: Ugandans 'vote' against #SocialMediaTax #MobileMoneyTax https://t.co/ZQHsHgWptC via @WhiteheadComm #UGtaxSurvey #SocialMedia pic.twitter.com/k2QlH57OtB

— Louis Jadwong (@Jadwong) July 18, 2018