Communications regulator, UCC has ordered telecommunications service providers operating in Uganda to stop the issuance of new simcards with immediate effect until they acquire equipment to verify customer identification.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director, Eng Godfrey Mutabazi announced that henceforth, telcos and their agents will not be allowed to sale new simcards until they have purchased Identification Card readers to eliminate cases of selling simcards to unknown persons.
Accordingly, Eng Mutabazi said; “All telcos should recall all simcards held by vendors until they acquire and install card readers at their centres to verify ID for clients”.
The card readers will be able to electronically verify whether the details on the customer’s ID card tally with the information in the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) system.
“We are saying that without these solutions, the operator should not be selling simcards. No more use of photocopied identity cards and whoever needs a new simcard must visit the service centre in person,” Mutabazi told journalists at a news conference on Friday.
UCC has also instructed telcos to recall all pre registered simcards that were activated in abuse of the verification procedure. For those seeking to replace their cards, the process will also require details like names, National Identification Number (NIN), date of birth and photos.
UCC has also banned the sale of unapproved phones saying that it contravenes with the law and puts the safety of Ugandans at risk.
Regarding the unauthentic phones, UCC has directed that no shop or vendor will be allowed to sale handsets or any other communication equipment that is not type approved.
“By law, we are supposed to do phone type approval on every communication device. All shops selling handsets must get clearance and the phones they sell must be type approved. Treat this communication as NDA treats pharmacies. You don’t sell Panadol on streets,” Mutabazi warned, urging the public to report such vendors to the Police.
He explained that most of the phones currently being vended in Kampala and Uganda at large are smuggled into the country and lack the certification from UCC. The handsets also lack quality standards pertaining to the manufacturer, radiation safety and traceability.
“We must know where you trade from. We have to work with URA to block them at the point on entry. Telcos should block these phones”.
“Uganda is the only country that allows simcards to be sold on the streets. This liberalization, I don’t see it in other countries. If you want to sell something that has an effect on someone else’s life, let’s accept accountability and let’s know how we can trace you in case of a problem,” he added.
According to Eng Mutabazi, the tentative ban on sale of simcards and unapproved phones is in response to what he called the fast changing dynamics within the communication and technology sector, some of which have posed security risks.
The stringent interventions by UCC come in the wake of increased insecurity partly attributed to the loopholes in the tracking of simcards that have recently been used to perpetrate crime. Last week, Cabinet ordered UCC to take immediate action against telcos that were still issuing simcards without the required verification.
The UCC boss warned that they will be held responsible for any mistakes done by their staffers in the process of simcard issuance and that failure to comply will attract penalties.
Responding to a question about the recent Cabinet directive to UCC to probe into several Airtel numbers that were found to be active but unregistered, Mutabazi said; “The investigation is moving on well and once we find culprit, the price will be high. We don’t want to preempt the investigation”.