The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) was tasked in 2013 with ensuring the mass registration of sim cards to help curb crime.
The move was intended to streamline the identification of mobile users and reduce the potential for criminal activity, including fraud and other security risks. However, despite these efforts, unregistered sim cards of telecom companies such as MTN and Airtel continue to be used, prompting renewed concerns.
Dr. Baryomunsi expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, noting that telecommunication companies have repeatedly assured the government that only authorised numbers are in circulation. Yet, the prevalence of unregistered sim cards suggests otherwise.
“I have engaged the telecommunication companies, and they keep giving assurance that it is only authorised numbers that are in circulation, whereas such experiences indicate the reverse,” Baryomunsi said.
He pledged to re-engage with telecom providers to address the issue, adding that some companies have suggested that unregistered numbers may be linked to the accounts of deceased individuals.
The minister’s remarks followed a plea raised by Hon. Sarah Ameede, the Butebo district woman Member of Parliament, during a plenary session on 19 September 2024.
Ameede highlighted the widespread fraud in her district, with residents frequently falling victim to scammers using unregistered sim cards. These fraudsters have posed as agents of the Association of Teso War Victims, extorting money under false promises of processing forms for government compensation.
Ameede called on the government to take swift action to stop these fraudulent activities and protect unsuspecting citizens from exploitation.
She also raised concerns about the legality of these schemes and urged the government to provide clear explanations on how such practices are allowed to persist.
In response, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Marksons Oboth, supported Dr. Baryomunsi’s stance and suggested that the Uganda Communications Act be reviewed. This review would allow for tougher penalties on telecommunication companies that fail to prevent the circulation of unregistered sim cards. Oboth stressed the importance of creating legal liability for service providers, stating, “We can look at the law again and come back here. This Parliament can save the situation through legislation, to create liability on the service providers.”
Oboth also warned of the security risks posed by unregistered sim cards, noting that criminals in Uganda, like in other countries, use mobile phones to coordinate illegal activities. He emphasised that this issue goes beyond fraud, as it also affects public safety.
“This is not a small matter. People have been killed, people have been robbed, while criminals coordinate this using unregistered numbers,” he explained.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa endorsed the idea of implementing punitive measures against telecommunication companies, drawing comparisons to how banks are penalised for facilitating money laundering in other countries.
Tayebwa suggested that Uganda should adopt similar approaches, which could include heavy fines or even the closure of companies found to be complicit in the circulation of unregistered sim cards.
Several members of Parliament joined the debate, sharing their own experiences of falling victim to fraud via unregistered sim cards.
They unanimously called for a lasting solution to the issue. Hon. Andrew Ojok (NRM, Omoro County) urged the Ministry of ICT to implement a countrywide data awareness campaign, aimed at educating the public on how to identify and avoid fraudulent schemes.
Source: PulseUG
