Below is the information shared by UCC:
If you are among those who have been wondering you need a National ID for SIM card replacement or registration, UCC has issued a statement with clarification.
SIM card replacement
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- The requirement to use the National ID in SIM card replacement or registration stems from the need to improve the safety and accountability of using communication services.
- Before the National ID was introduced, telecom operators registered SIM card users using various identification documents such as passports, village IDs, employment IDs, and LC letters.
- This method was unreliable because there was no central system to validate these documents, leading to multiple identities and an unreliable database.
- The 2010 Regulation of Interception of Communications Act demanded the registration of all SIM card users, but the absence of a National ID system made it challenging to enforce.
- The 2015 Registration of Persons Act made it mandatory for all Ugandans to register and obtain National ID cards with unique National Identification Numbers (NINs).
- The 2015 Registration of Persons Regulations specified that the National ID would be the mandatory document for Ugandans to register for SIM cards.
- The 2018 Biometric Verification exercise required all SIM card users to undergo biometric verification using their National IDs. Users had to present their National IDs physically at telecom service centres for verification.
- The 2023 Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations (Regulation 18) included a transitional provision for the regularisation of all existing SIM cards with updated details in accordance with the new Regulations.
- The National ID provides a reliable and verifiable method to ensure that every SIM card user can be uniquely identified, thereby enhancing security and accountability.
- An individual who has lost their National ID should visit NIRA for a confirmation letter containing their registration details and NIN (National Identification Number). They should then take this to their telecom service provider for SIM card replacement or registration.
