The Ugandan parliamentary committee on ICT has urged all Ugandan operators to register their subscribers’ SIM cards within six months, in accordance with a new Communications Bill.
The process will be coordinated by Uganda Communications Comission, said the committee chairman, Igeme Nabeta, according to the country’s The New Vision publication.
He said service providers must start registering simcards for existing subscribers, as stated in the Bill. Operators have been asked to record each subscriber’s full name, address, identity and mobile number.
Security minister, Amama Mbabazi, said the Bill was aimed at intercepting criminal suspects and not interfering in people’s private lives. The Bill gives Government the authority to issue warrants to intercept communication in cases of terrorism and crimes against the state. Moreover, it grants security agencies the right to intercept terrorism-related activities such as monetary transfers and payments.
