Social media platforms termed as Over the Top (OTT) services flag are a clean ground for bloggers and other content providers reaping big from their craft with several promotions and microblogging activities. Well, Uganda communications commission (UCC) previously expressed interest in regulating all forms of online content producers and it has apparently acted on this, with plans of issuing new licencing fees to bloggers.
To date, you risk being closed down if your site is not registered with the regulator. Henceforth, the commission is rumored to be introducing new compulsory annual fees for all prospective online content providers to bring them to book.
According to a one Valenchee on Twitter, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) may be planning to introduce annual fees amounting to approx $20 per year. However, this would mean that each and every blogger will have to battle with the fees whether or not they earn a living from the published content. Despite paying OTT tax together with the rumored annual fees. UCC has not confirmed or issued any notice whether it will execute a Tanzania like move.
As it turns out, bloggers and other online content producers in Uganda are mandated by @UCC_Official to not only register but also pay an annual fee of $20. What is not clear is whether those who blog on Facebook, Twitter and free blogging platforms fall under this gamut #Uganda
— mwesigwa (@valanchee) August 16, 2018
Although the Uganda blogging community consists of a minority with custom blogging sites and the other half railing on pre-hosted services like Wordpress & Blogger. UCC neither stated the category of bloggers to register with the regulator nor the annual fees bloggers will battle with.
Perhaps, as the commission previously inked a Ugandan based social media network joining Dei Places in the digital zones. All bloggers, Vloggers (Video bloggers) together with the micro content providers may soon battle with 20 USD amounting to UGX 75,000. UCC is yet to make a statement about this.
