Unverified SIM cards switched off
Last month, all mobile phone subscribers were required to update their records by submitting their national identification numbers
A government directive has left a significant number of Ugandans unable to make or receive phone calls after telecom operators deactivated unverified SIM cards on Saturday morning.
Effective midnight on Friday, unverified SIM cards were switched off, in accordance with the telecom regulator, the Uganda Communications Commission's (UCC) May 19 deadline.
Last month, all mobile phone subscribers were required to update their records by submitting their national identification numbers (NINs) to service providers.
NINs are unique numbers printed at the back of one's national identity card, containing a trove of data about the card holder.
Phone users were required to visit telecom service centres or dial *197*3# and follow prompts to key in their NIN, surname and given name, or alternatively to send their details as a message to 197.
Information and National Guidance Minister, Frank Tumwebaze on Friday maintained that they would work with NIRA officers to hasten the issuance of national IDs.
According to government, the fresh registration of SIM cards using national IDs was prompted by national security concerns.
On March 30, 2017, a New Vision survey found that telecom operators were still selling unregistered SIM cards, four years after the practice was outlawed.
Some of the agents for the telecom operators were found selling pre-registered SIM cards (registered in the names of other people), trend security experts said was fuelling crime.
By August 31, 2013, all telecom operators were supposed to have deactivated unregistered phone numbers after the nationwide registration exercise.
At the time, subscribers were allowed to use driving permits, letters from local authorities or passports to register their SIM cards, since national IDs had not been issued.
The registration of SIM cards was intended to help law security agencies to track criminals and curb phone theft, fraud, threats and incitement of violence.
The Regulation of Interception of Communications Act, 2010 provides for lawful interception and monitoring of certain private person's communications for in the interest of national security.