Mobile phone users especially in Kampala are calling for extension of the deadline for simcard registration to one month instead of seven days.
Uganda Communications Commission warns that phone users have up to Thursday 20th April to verify their previously registered Simcards using National ID numbers, an exercise that started five days ago.
But, many people in the city spoken argue that Government has not sensitized the populace on the purpose for this registration, but is rather threatening to switch users off.
The decision by UCC and the Uganda Police Force taken last week, to have the lines verified using national identity card number is meant to curb crime as criminals have been using irregularly registered simcards to communicate.
City lawyer, Julius Galiwango says there is no need for Ugandans to be inconvenienced with double simcard registration, considering the fact that they had registered in a more vigorous exercise years ago.
He argues that those who had not registered their cards in the past, should be harassed with such an exercise.
“If a person has never registered his/her simcard, that person really should not even be on air. However, a person who registered, there is no reason why they should harass that person, as UCC is now trying to do.
Former presidential candidate and academia, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba says if any Ugandan sues UCC, then courts will stop them from carrying on with this illegal exercise.
“The courts will stop them, if somebody goes to court. There is no law that says that the exercise that took place of registering simcards had any fault, it followed the law. The law has not been amended, so what would force a telecom company to register?” Baryamureeba wondered.
He added that “If this was America or UK, telecom companies would have said no, we are not going to do this exercise.”
Members of parliament also sounded concerns for the people they represent, saying the move is worrying their constituents especially in rural areas where there is not enough machines to register people on time.
Juma Kakeeto, one of the phone users states that seven days is too short, claiming that most of the days were public holidays which makes it impossible to register. He says some people have no national IDs, while others with national IDs have failed to read messages sent to them on phone.
A vendor, who declines to give her identities, says that her line was already registered using another person's identity. She says an attempt to confirm her registration status using the national ID was futile. She says an extension of the deadline will enable her to verify her status.
John Asiimwe says not everyone knows English to read. He says what is clear is the fact that the exercise is being done without sensitising people.
