Millions of Ugandans with unverified SimCards will tonight have them deactivated at the directive of President Yoweri Museveni.
According to the guidelines released by the Uganda Communication Commission UCC, the deactivation process will start tonight at exactly midnight, and last 72 hours.
In a letter dated August 29th, UCC explains that all SimCards with ‘NOT FOUND’ comment against their submission from NIRA, shall be switched off during the 72 hour period.
The letter also clarifies that a SimCard that has been switched off during the 72 hour period will be reactivated immediately on the physical presentation of a National ID and related information at the premises of a service provider’s authorizded outlet or center. This reactivation, according to UCC is conditional, and deactivation of such a SimCard will be immediate if the supplied NIN is returned with the remark ‘NOT FOUND’ by NIRA.
In the same letter, signed by UCC managing Director Godfrey Mutabazi, new SimCard purchases will be immediately made active after presentation and submission of the NIN at authorized outlets and or centers for SIM registration. However, if the submitted NIN for a new SimCard is returned with ‘NOT FOUND’ remark by NIRA, the said SimCard shall be promptly switched off.
The switch-off or deactivation involves; Barring all incoming and outgoing calls and SMS, barring all Data services, enable ONLY mobile money withdraws, BUT, disallow deposits or receipt of funds. Enable calls for only EMERGENCY services, enable calls to customer service lines of the applicable mobile Network operator, and enable access to short codes 197 and 216.
