FDC condemns switching off of unregistered SIM cards

May 22, 2017

'Those who do not have National IDs and should not be punished for government’s mistakes'

FDC spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju Nganda addressing the media the party's headquarters in Najjanankumbi. Photo by Nancy Nanyonga

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has called the switching off of unregistered SIM cards a shabby move.

Speaking during the weekly press briefing held at the party headquarters in Najjanankubi today, the party spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, said though the party appreciates the need to register SIM cards to fight crime; it was handled in a shabby way.

He said before switching off SIM cards, government ought to have finished registration of persons for National IDs first before embarking on verifying SIM cards.

He said most of the people whose cards have been switched off, do not have National IDs and should not be punished for government's mistakes.

"Parliament's directive of extending the deadline for SIM card verification should be maintained. This exercise has been done in a shabby way and ought to be revised," he said.

"For instance, my two airtel lines were switched off yet they were verified, what does that mean?" he wondered.

The exercise which started in April was initially meant to last one week but was extended for another month following a last minute rush and public outcry for an extension.

The verification of subscribers is intended to help security agencies to track criminals and curb phone theft, fraud, threats and incitement of violence.

Over the weekend, SIM cards that were not verified were switched off.

Uganda Communications Commission executive director, Eng Godfrey Mutabazi, said that by last week 70% of the registration exercise had been concluded.

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