The Standard Utilities and Wildlife Court in Makindye has started sentencing SIM card agents who register SIM cards without following legal procedures, in a move aimed at curbing fraud and protecting the public.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the convictions arise from Regulation 28 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024 (RICA), which makes it an offence to register a SIM card outside the procedures set by law.
In two separate cases decided on June 1, 2026, the court handed down jail terms, fines and a caution to the accused persons.
In the first case, Uganda versus Bosco Kasozi, the court heard that Kasozi registered several Airtel Uganda SIM cards under the details of one customer and later resold the cards to other people.
The SIM cards were subsequently used to interfere with the radio frequencies of Beat FM Uganda and Simba Radio. The users also obtained money from members of the public through fraudulent means.
The court convicted Kasozi and sentenced him to four years in prison or a fine of Shs1.8 million.
In the second case, Uganda versus Joward Masereka and Two Others, the court heard that an Airtel Uganda SIM card sales officer in Kasese secretly created a second SIM card while registering a customer.
The officer used the customer's credentials to activate the extra SIM card and later sold it to another person. The line eventually ended up in the hands of individuals who used it to commit aggravated robbery in Kalagi.
One of the accused, Masereka Joward, pleaded guilty and asked the court for leniency.
The court issued him a caution after considering that he was a Senior Four student who had been drawn into the criminal activity by the other suspects.
UCC said the court recognised the dangers posed by improperly registered SIM cards.
"The court has certainly taken note of the fact that a SIM card is like a bullet; once it is irregularly registered, it has the potential to cause unbearable harm and injury to the public, including electronic fraud, theft, obtaining money by pretence and other crimes," the regulator said.
UCC also warned that telecommunications companies can face penalties if their agents fail to follow the required registration procedures.
The regulator urged members of the public to verify the number of SIM cards registered under their National Identification Number by dialling *197#, selecting Option 2 and following the prompts.
UCC said strict enforcement of the regulations remains essential in protecting customers and the public from fraud and other criminal activities.
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