Uganda’s SIM Card Crackdown: 1.4 Million Disconnected in Regulatory Sweep

The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) reports that a total of 1.4 million SIM cards have been disconnected as part of an ongoing crackdown on improperly registered lines. Rebbeca Mukite, the Head of Public and International Relations at UCC, disclosed during a local radio talk show in Kampala that the number of disconnected lines is expected to decrease as more individuals are complying with the directive to regularize their registrations.

Mukite emphasized the need to escalate the regularization process by utilizing the *197# mechanism on mobile phones. She urged people to select option two to determine the number of SIM cards registered in their names, stating that this approach is crucial to identifying and eliminating fraudulent activities perpetrated by “bafere” (telephone con-people).

Addressing concerns about criminals using SIM cards obtained from stolen or lost phones for fraudulent activities, Mukite highlighted the importance of checking and removing such SIM cards from personal profiles. She cautioned that individuals could be held liable if these SIM cards, with their names and biometrics, are misused in criminal activities.

Mukite also emphasized the responsibility of those registering numbers for others, insisting that the registered individuals must be in sound legal standing. The UCC initiated the mass disconnection of SIM cards on November 12, 2023, in strict compliance with the regulations outlined in the Interception of Communications Act.

The SIM card regularization process mandates registered owners to physically visit their respective telecom providers with their original national identity cards for thorough screening and verification. According to UCC data, Uganda has over 30 million registered SIM cards, with approximately 2 percent classified as non-regularized.

The regularization process aligns with Section 9 of the Regulations of the Interception of Communications Act, which requires telecommunication service providers to collect comprehensive customer information before offering services and to maintain records. These regulations also stipulate that each active SIM card must be associated with a National Identification Card, with a limit of no more than 10 SIM cards from the same telecom company per cardholder.