Prime
Cabinet orders UCC to investigate telecom companies over unregistered Simcards
What you need to know:
- In May 2017, phone users braved long queues at different Simcard registration centres as they moved to beat the deadline for Simcard registration; even after it had been extended a couple of times.
- Almost a year later, security agencies are grappling with a new wave of murders, kidnaps and fleecing of money, mainly through unregistered Simcards
Cabinet has directed the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to urgently institute an investigation aimed at ascertaining telecom companies whose customers are still using unregistered Simcards.
Information Technology and Communications minister, Mr Frank Tumwebaze said the directive was reached at the previous Cabinet meeting last week.
UCC will report the findings in two weeks, Mr Tumwebaze told journalists in Kampala.
The directive came hours after police recovered the body of Susan Magara, 28, at Kigo in Wakiso District weeks after she was kidnapped at Kabaka Anjagala road as she was driving to her home in Lungujja, Rubaga Division.
Magara was kidnapped on February 7, 2018 and had been missing since then.
In May 2017, phone users braved long queues at different Simcard registration centres as they moved to beat the deadline for Simcard registration; even after it had been extended a couple of times. This followed a directive by telecom sector regulator, UCC to all telecom companies to have their clients register their Simcards.
The directive came two months after the brutal murder of then-police spokesman, Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his driver and bodyguard. The assailants reportedly coordinated their gruesome mission on phone.
However, almost a year later, security agencies are grappling with a new wave of murders, kidnaps and fleecing of money, mainly through unregistered Simcards.
According to the minister, a security brief to cabinet revealed that the telephone numbers used by the kidnappers have no identity yet they are active. Some Members of Parliament faulted UCC for failing to take action against non-compliant telecom companies.
