Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has announced that subscribers must verify their SIM cards by November 12, 2023.
Telecom service providers have been actively engaging with the public to ensure compliance with evolving subscriber registration rules.
Originally, the government mandated SIM card registration that focused on capturing National Identification Numbers (NINs). Subsequently, additional measures were introduced, requiring the collection of subscribers’ thumbprints or biometrics.
In May 2023, the Government of Uganda, through the Minister of Security, introduced the 2023 Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations to streamline and harmonize SIM card registration procedures in Uganda.
Under Regulation 18 of the new Regulations, recognition is given to customers previously registered using alternative forms of identification and procedures that do not align with the new requirements. To harmonize the SIM Card-Know Your Customer (KYC) database, Regulation 18 instructs telecom operators to contact customers whose SIM card registrations may not have been correctly executed within 180 days from the publication of the Regulations.
The countdown commenced on May 12, 2023, with the Commission directing all telecom operators to complete this regularization process by November 12, 2023.
Subscribers requiring regularization of their SIM cards are requested to visit their service provider’s service centers in person to update their registration information. They should bring their original National IDs. This regularization process will be provided at no extra cost to the customer.
In a statement released on Monday, the UCC announced that SIM cards not regularized by midnight on November 12, 2023, will be deactivated. These deactivated SIM cards will remain inactive until the customer complies with the regularization process. If a customer fails to regularize the deactivated SIM card within 90 days from November 12, 2023, the operators will treat them as unused, in accordance with Regulation 23.
Regulation 23 states that a SIM card not in use for a continuous period of 90 days will be deactivated and may be assigned to another customer. If the SIM card is registered for mobile money with a balance, the operator will keep it inactive, preserving the mobile money balance for nine months as per Section 57 of the National Payments Systems Act 2020. After this period, the mobile money balance will be transferred to the Bank of Uganda (BOU) for further management.
The UCC strongly urges affected subscribers to act promptly to avoid service disruptions. They are committed to ensuring that telecommunication services meet all regulatory requirements and that subscribers have a seamless and secure mobile experience.
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