SIM card registration kicks off in March

By Patrick Jaramogi

The registration of SIM cards countrywide commences on March 1 2012, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has revealed.

The registration follows the enactment of the Interception of Communication Act which provides for the registration of existing SIM cards.

According to UCC, all new and existing mobile phone numbers will have to be registered to be activated on a mobile network in Uganda.

 UCC is the regulatory body of the communications sector in Uganda. It was established by the Uganda Communications Act (Cap 106 Laws of Uganda) to facilitate and enable the development of a modern communications sector and infrastructure in Uganda.

 “The cutoff date for SIM card registration for existing mobile subscribers is 1st March 2013,” said Fred Otunnu, the UCC manager of communication and consumer affairs.

Otunnu told the New Vision that UCC had instructed all mobile service providers in the country to ensure that the registration is not burdensome.

SIM is an abbreviation for Subscriber Identity Module. A SIM card is a valuable memory card, which stores all the information on your phone, like pictures, videos, and music and contact numbers.

There are at least seven registered telecommunication service providers in Uganda; MTN, Airtel, Warid, Orange, utl, Smiles and I-telecom.

Otunnu pointed out that the above service providers were under obligation to ensure smooth sim- card registration from various designated customer care service centers spread across the country.

“The bottom line is that the service provider is to make the registration less cumbersome by having many registration places,” he said. No multiple registrations will be accommodated.  

What is needed?

Otunnu said all one needs is proper and valid identification such as passport, drivers licence, staff Identity card, Voters card or Local Council (residential) card with a current passport photo.

“The LC I Letter is to cater for those people who don’t have passports, don’t drive are not employed but have phones,” explained Otunnu.

He said the registration is absolutely free. Commenting on the those already registered by the various service providers such as Mtn Mobile money, Warid Pesa of Airtel Zap, Otunnu said they also have to registered since some details like photos are required.

 “Those with multiple SIM-cards have to register all the lines by March 1 2013. Those who don’t will have breached the law and will have their phones deactivated,” he said.

For those who are out of the country or will have missed out on the deadline, they will have the opportunity to register and activate their phones upon return.

“The registration will be continuous because people will keep buying new lines and phones. Those abroad can alternatively delegate the registration process, though it won’t be in their names,’ said Otunnu.

SIM card registration is part of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to enhance security of lives and property of Ugandans. 

What the exercise entails

The various service providers pointed out that the registration exercise will be simplified and will include the capture of the photograph and biometrics of the subscriber – fingerprints and digital photograph.

“Proxy registration shall be restricted to the direct families of persons seeking registration. In the case of existing SIM card holders, necessary processes and procedures are currently being put in place to guarantee a smooth registration exercise.

"The general public and all relevant stakeholders will be notified in due course about the timing and how to proceed,” said a source at Mtn.

Status in East Africa

SIM card registration in Uganda is part of the regional exercise. Under the umbrella body called the East Africa Communications Organisation (EACO), the East Africa region set mid 2012 as the deadline to have all existing SIM cards registered.

In Kenya and Tanzania at least 80% of SIM cards in each country have been registered. 

Importance of SIM card registration

SIM card registration aims to ensure all subscribers are registered in the move aimed at fighting crime in Uganda. Given the fact that Uganda still lacks an effective Identity Management System, or a national identity database of its citizens, this exercise is necessary to prevent the harassment many Ugandans go through at the hands of people using mobile phones to perpetrate crime.

“Those who don’t register by the cutoff date will have their phones deactivated,” said a Warid telecom official.