Police use tear gas, bullets to break up tax protest

Ugandan police on Wednesday used tear gas and bullets to break up a street protest against a new tax targeting social media users.

The protest was organized by a popular lawmaker, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a pop star. Police broke up the protest because Ssentamu did not notify them of his plans.

Later on Wednesday, Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda told lawmakers that the tax on social media, as well as another levy on a phone-based payment system, would be reviewed and a new bill brought next week.

Since July 1, social media users have been paying upfront a daily tax of 5 cents to access all social media websites and apps.