A SIM card seller has been sentenced to one year imprisonment or a fine of UGX 500,000 after he was convicted for violating SIM card registration procedures.
Working as an Airtel Uganda agent, Patrick Wanyera registered a subscriber outside the approved SIM card registration point, signed the subscriber registration form on behalf of the customer, and issued the SIM card in flagrant violation of Regulation 28 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024.
The Uganda Communications Commission continues to strengthen enforcement of the SIM card registration framework because properly registered SIM cards are essential for promoting trust, security, and accountability within Uganda’s digital ecosystem.
Irregular SIM card registration creates opportunities for fraud, financial crime, identity misuse, and other offences that undermine public confidence in communications services. In this case, the illegally registered SIM card was later used to defraud a student in a bogus scholarship scheme.
UCC is also strengthening regulatory oversight to ensure that communications service providers effectively supervise their employees, agents, and third parties.
Under Regulation 27 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, operators may face penalties of up to UGX 5,000,000 for irregular SIM card registration.
UCC remains committed to protecting the integrity of Uganda’s communications sector and safeguarding the public from communications-related crime.
A safe and secure communications environment promotes consumer protection and fosters a trusted ecosystem that supports Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.
SIM card registration agents are urged to strictly comply with the prescribed registration procedures and encourage members of the public to ensure that their SIM cards are registered only through authorised registration points using their own valid identification documents.
