Uganda's parliament has passed a law that imposes controversial taxes on people using social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.<br /> The country's president, Yoweri Museveni, had said the move was to discourage gossip, which he said was costing Uganda time and money. <br />The tax was passed on Wednesday and will impose 200 shilling, or five U.S. cents, on social media users starting July 1st. <br />According to the World Bank, that amounts to 19 U.S. dollars per year in a country where GDP per capita came to just over 600 dollars in 2016.<br />The law also includes a one percent levy on the total value of mobile money transactions.<br /> Critics argue that the new law is an attempt to restrict free speech and stifle negative comments about Museveni. <br />However, it remains unclear as to how the law will be implemented. <br />
