Late SIM registration overwhelms officials

People lining up to register for the national Identifications at Kololo ceremorial ground. On 18th April 2017 Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda

With just a few days to the deadline for re-registration and verification of SIM cards in the country hundreds of Ugandans thronged telecom service centres and ID registration points in a bid to avoid disconnection.

Uganda Communications Commission UCC set a Thursday deadline for the exercise and long queues greeted those who set about beating the deadline.

MTN subscribers waiting to re-register their SIM cards at the Lugogo outlet. Photo by Abou Kisige

Service centres in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono among others had hundreds lining up while Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the headquarters of National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) saw even more people queuing to start the ID registration process.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda chaired an emergency meeting to discuss the exercise. 

People queueing to register for national identification cards at NIRA's Wakiso offices on Tuesday. Photo by Job Nantakiika

The meeting was attended Minister for Information and National Guidance, Frank Tumwebaze, Security Minister, Gen Henry Tumukunde and Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odong, UCC executive director, Godfrey Mutabazi, the NIRA executive director and the permanent secretary of the ICT ministry. 

In another development a petition has been filed before the High Court seeking an interim order to halt the disconnection of unregistered SIM cards.

People queue for registration of SIM cards at MTN offices on Mukono House in Mukono. Photo by Drake Ssentongo

People gathered at the entrance of the Airtel Mukono Service Centre near Sombe Supermarket to register SIM cards. Photo by Drake Ssentongo

Through their lawyer Eron Kiiza, the petitioners, Norman Tumuhimbise and Rights Trumpet Ltd argue that the directive is unconstitutional and violates fundamental human rights.