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Uganda age-verification & online ID laws

Failed Over-the-Top (OTT) social-media tax effective Jul 2018 (repealed 2021)

Uganda imposed a daily tax on access to social media and messaging apps (the OTT levy) in July 2018, widely criticised for pricing poorer users offline.

Laws & bills on record

Social media

Failed
Bill / statute
Over-the-Top (OTT) social-media tax
Status
Bill introduced, then failed
Effective
Jul 2018 (repealed 2021)
Intrusiveness
Moderate -- Standard ID or age-estimate check to enter adult sites; civil enforcement.

Uganda imposed a daily tax on access to social media and messaging apps (the OTT levy) in July 2018, widely criticised for pricing poorer users offline. It was scrapped in July 2021 and replaced with a 12% levy on internet data. Authorities also impose election-time social-media and internet shutdowns.

Timeline
  • Jul 1, 2018In effect
  • Jul 1, 2018OTT social-media tax introduced
  • Jan 1, 2021Nationwide social-media/internet shutdown around elections
  • Jul 1, 2021Failed
  • Jul 1, 2021OTT tax repealed, replaced by data levy

Source: freedomhouse.org

VPN restrictions

VPN use surged after the 2021 social-media blocks; access is periodically restricted, particularly around elections.

Source: freedomhouse.org

Frequently asked questions

Does Uganda require age checks or ID to use social media?

No -- a bill was introduced but failed. Over-the-Top (OTT) social-media tax is failed, effective Jul 2018 (repealed 2021). Uganda imposed a daily tax on access to social media and messaging apps (the OTT levy) in July 2018, widely criticised for pricing poorer users offline.

Are VPNs restricted in Uganda?

VPN use surged after the 2021 social-media blocks; access is periodically restricted, particularly around elections.

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