At long last, the good news coming out of Uganda Communications Commission is that you are free to acquire new SIM cards after two long months since the commission had suspended their issuance. The ban that led to a public outcry was imposed by the commission as a temporary measure to give the regulator time to patch some loop holes in the telecommunications system. On 16th April 2018, UCC sent a letter to the telecom companies allowing them to resume swapping and replacing SIM cards using the Electronic Biometric Card Readers that were provided by the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA).
This was followed by MTN Uganda, Africell Uganda, Airtel Uganda and Smile Telecom notifying their customers about the places which they had furnished with Card Readers. Telecom operators were now able to match and conduct real-time online verification of customer’s information with the National Identity database.
On 8th May,2018, UCC instructed telecommunication operators who had deployed online Electronic Biometric Card Readers to resume issuance of SIM Cards to both new and existing customers using the real-time online verification system.
However, certain conditions have to be met with regards to new SIM Card sales, SIM upgrades, SIM swaps, and SIM replacements. Operators are required to STRICTLY adhere to the following conditions;
For Ugandans
1. A customer seeking to acquire, upgrade or replace a SIM Card must physically appear and present his or her original National Identification Card to an operator’s designated customer care agent at a designated customer care center or registration point.
2. The Operator must verify the authenticity of the National Identification Card using an Electronic Biometric Card Reader, match the applicant’s live biometrics with the biometrics on the card, and obtain real-time verification with the NIRA database through the API.
3. The Operator must obtain a fresh Photograph of the applicant.
4. The Operator must register the applicant for the SIM Card, and ensure that the applicant expressly gives authority to the Telecom Operator to access and match his or her details with the National identification database maintained by NIRA.
5. The Operator must retain a record of all registration details of the applicant.
NOTES:
* With regards to lost SIM Cards, the applicant must present a valid letter from the Uganda Police Force confirming loss of the customer’s SIM Card.
*For avoidance of doubt, where, for whatever reason, the operator is unable to conduct online real-time verification of the customer’s information with NIRA’s national ID database, the operator should not proceed with the issuance, upgrade or replacement of the SIM Card.
For non-Ugandans
l. The applicant for a SIM Card, whether new or replacement, must physically appear and present his or her original Passport to the operators designated customer service center.
2. Non Ugandans shall only be allowed to purchase SIM Cards upon the production of an Original valid passport, with a valid visa or resident permit.
3. The non-Ugandan applicant should present a recent passport photograph, which shall be attached to the SIM Card registration form.
4. The SIM Card issued should only be active for the period of the validity of the customer’s Visa or resident permit. The Operator must deactivate the SIM Card upon expiry of the customer’s Visa or resident permit.
It’s Game Over!
The commission has advised all Ugandan nationals without valid National Identification cards to contact NIRA for guidance on the registration process and obtain National Identification Cards before they may be allowed to acquire, upgrade or replace SIM Cards. UCC will also hold operators liable for any SIM card registered, upgraded or replaced contrary to the above conditions. Operators have been advised to adhere to the above guidelines without fail.
Now that the commission is done with establishing ground for SIM card registration, it’s next stop will be switching off about 9 million fake phones. We previously showed you how to check if your phone will be disconnected by UCC . Be sure to find out your mobile phone’s fate before the big black out.
