Telecoms begin blocking unverified Simcards today

A boda boda man uses his phone recently. Some users will not be switched off today. FILE PHOTO 

In Summary

• According to UCC, the verification exercise seeks to improve information integrity and provide a secure communications eco-system.

By Christine Kasemiire & Dorothy Nakaweesi

Kampala. Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has said not all unverified simcards will be
blocked.
However, while speaking to Daily Monitor yesterday, Mr Ibrahim Bbosa, the UCC spokesperson, said not all unverified Simcards will be blocked today.

“If you have one Simcard with an operator and it has a National Identification Number (NIN), even if it is not yet verified, but the Simcard is registered with a valid NIN, you will not be affected,” he said.
UCC, in a March 19 meeting with telecoms resolved to set May 1 as a deadline for verification of Simcards. This followed audit findings by UCC which concluded that there was immediate need to align and update Simcard registration information.
However, some users will not be affected today.
For instance, Mr Bbosa, if you have two or more Simcards with a telecom, and one of them is verified with a NIN, you will not be affected today. Such as subscriber will, however, be required to verify the other numbers before May 15.

Mr Bbosa said those with multiple Simcards with one operator, and none of them is verified using biometrics and are registered under multiple names, will be blocked.
Ms Sumin Namaganda, the Airtel public relations manager, said they are approaching specific customers through different channels and are being requested to validate and update their registration.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com