Uganda communication commission has directed all telecom operators to acquire card readers, to validate national identification card information during subscriber registration
Addressing the press at their offices in Bugolobi, Engineer Godfrey Mutabazi, the Uganda communication commission Executive director said that they will not allow criminals to outsmart them, and they are trying to stay ahead with new technology.
He added that they will run business like national drug authority and military which do not allow the sale of Panadol or bullets on the street.
“So we shall not allow vendors to sell simcards on the streets. We have asked the police and other security agencies to help us enforce this. We shall be cleaning up the database, because we can’t afford to leave all responsibility to telecoms. We are trying to harmonize, and we shall come up with something tangible” Mutabazi said.
He says UCC has been enforcing the law, but they are stepping up, partnering with other authorities lie URA, NIRA, Police, telecom operators among others.
Eng. Mutabazi says one can’t blame Bank of Uganda for fraud that takes place in Banks unless it has been reported. He therefore says individuals need to report to UCC so as to stop simcard fraud.
The telecom operators have now been directed to halt any sale and registration of simcards until they have acquired card readers. Mutabazi says every Ugandan will need an original national ID, no photocopy and appear in person, to register or acquire a simcard.
The technology is already in the country.
Mutabazi says technology is changing and the country will get bigger crimes using simcards, and now the commission is trying to find ways to protect the public. The information captured on the card reader, will be verified against the national data base maintained by NIRA.
A cleanup has also been ordered for all counterfeit phones to be traced and dumped. Telecom operators have also been directed to immediately recall and deactivate all pre-activated or pre-registered simcards that are currently in stock.
He warned that those who ignore these guidelines will be acted upon, in accordance with the UCC Act.
“All telecom operators shall forthwith be liable for any violation of commission directives by their staff or agents, whether such violation is by omission, commission or otherwise” Mutabaazi warned.
Currently, all simcards are off market until telecom operators install card readers. Telecom operators, when approached by this reporter, declined to comment, claiming they are still in talks with UCC.