July 1, 2019 marks a year since Over the Top (OTT) tax took effect in Uganda. Internet users have had to part with a daily Shs200 to access social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram among others.
As a sign of resistance, internet users resorted to the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to by-pass government blockades on social media apps. Between July and December 2018, over 1 million VPN Apps had been downloaded in Uganda alone.
However, on the anniversary of OTT Tax today, VPN users are still going strong and government is still looking for a solution to block all VPNs.