Unregistered SIM cards to be switched off at midnight

Mar 29, 2017

No person will be allowed to possess more than 10 sim cards registered in his or her name

UCC executive director, Eng Godfrey Mutabazi, issued the directive. Photo by Racheal Nassuuna

All non-registered sim cards are to be deactivated on Wednesday by midnight under a new directive by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

Eng Godfrey Mutabazi, the UCC executive director issued the directive on Wednesday, a day after meeting the telecom operators about stern measures to curb crime through sim card registration.

"All pre-activated SIM Cards that are currently being sold on the market must be deactivated by midnight on 29th March 2017," Mutabazi stated during a media briefing at the commission's head offices in Kampala.

In addition to switching off unregistered phone numbers, no person is allowed to possess more than 10 sim cards registered in his or her name.

The only documents to be accepted at the point of registration will be one's national identity card or valid passport. Previously, telecom operators were accepting other documents such as driving permits.

Mutabazi said the strict orders were meant to address insecurity and protect the telecom industry and the country from crime and rampant phone-related fraud.

The new directive comes a day after a New Vision investigation discovered that unregistered sim cards were on sale and users could easily make calls using them.

The revelation comes in the wake of rising phone-related crime, including extortion, harassment and threats through phone calls and text messages.

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