Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has directed all telecom operators to deactivate unregistered simcards with immediate effect.
UCC executive director Godfrey Mutabazi told journalists on Wednesday morning at the head offices in Bugolobi that the decision was reached after meeting heads of telecom companies yesterday.
“All non-registered and partially registered sim cards on the various networks must be deactivated by midnight of 29th March 2017,” said Mutabazi.
The directive does not leave out the pre- activated sim cards currently being sold on the streets and phone shops.
Telecoms that fail to comply to the directive, Mutabaazi said will be fined up to 10% of their gross annual revenues.
“The only customer identification documents valid for the purpose of sim card registration shall be the national Identification Cards and valid passports.”
He added that documents like LC letters and driving permits don’t capture all necessary data for identification whereas others are easily forged.
Asked on the number of users to be affected by the move, Mutabazi said they can’t tell by now adding that currently 23 million users are registered. On people with multiple sim cards, Mutabazi said that not more than 10 sim cards can be registered in an individual’s name.
“If you have more than one simcard, you will have to provide proof of how you are to use them .If you’re buying it for your son, you have to provide a birth certificate to show the relationship, “he noted.
