The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has intensified its crackdown on illegal SIM card registration practices after an Airtel Uganda agent was sentenced to one year in prison or a fine of Shs 500,000 for violating registration procedures.
The agent, Patrick Wanyera, was convicted after he registered a subscriber outside an approved SIM card registration point, signed the subscriber registration form on behalf of the customer, and issued a SIM card without following the required legal procedures.
His actions were found to be in breach of Regulation 28 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024, which sets out strict guidelines for SIM card registration to promote accountability and protect communication users.
UCC said the conviction demonstrates the importance of proper SIM card registration in maintaining security and trust within Uganda’s digital ecosystem. The Commission noted that improperly registered SIM cards create opportunities for fraud, identity misuse, financial crimes, and other illegal activities.
In this case, the SIM card that was irregularly registered was later used to defraud a student through a fake scholarship scheme, exposing the risks associated with weak compliance during SIM registration.
The communications regulator said it is strengthening oversight to ensure that telecom operators effectively supervise their agents, employees, and other third parties involved in SIM card registration.
Under Regulation 27 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024, telecom operators can face penalties of up to Shs 5 million for allowing irregular SIM card registration practices.
UCC has warned SIM card agents against bypassing registration requirements, saying such actions not only violate the law but also expose the public to communication-related crimes.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Ugandans and maintaining the integrity of the country’s telecommunications sector by ensuring that all SIM card registration processes are conducted legally and transparently.
