Written By |
D/Speaker Tayebwa strongly criticized telecom companies, urging the government to impose fines similar to those seen in Nigeria, where telecoms were heavily penalized for harboring unregistered numbers
Search
PARLIAMENT – Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has called for stringent penalties against telecommunications companies in Uganda for enabling the use of unregistered SIM cards by criminals. Tayebwa emphasized the growing concern of fraudsters using unregistered SIM cards to defraud citizens, including Members of Parliament, posing a serious national security risk.
During a heated parliamentary session, Tayebwa recounted a recent incident where a fraudster, under the name "Eng. Byarugaba," sent multiple MPs messages from the number 0766881917. The scammer requested money under the guise of transporting transformers to their constituencies. Despite earlier intervention by the telecom company MTN Uganda to block the number, the same individual resurfaced using another unregistered SIM card.
Tayebwa strongly criticized telecom companies, urging the government to impose fines similar to those seen in Nigeria, where telecoms were heavily penalized for harboring unregistered numbers. “We were assured that all unregistered numbers had been removed from the network, yet fraudsters continue to exploit these loopholes. Telecom companies must face punishment for enabling these crimes,” he stated.
The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, supported the Deputy Speaker’s proposal. He revealed that although telecom companies had assured him that only registered numbers were active, the experiences of MPs and the public indicated otherwise. “I’ve engaged with telecoms, and they continue to claim that unregistered numbers are not in use. However, we will investigate these claims thoroughly and, if necessary, impose heavy sanctions on companies found violating the regulations,” said Baryomunsi.
ICT Minister Chris Baryomunsi, supported the idea of imposing heavy sanctions on companies found violating the regulations
Minister of Defence Marksons Oboth also echoed these concerns, highlighting the security implications of unregistered SIM cards. He stressed the urgency of holding telecom companies accountable for allowing such practices to persist. “Criminals are using phones to commit serious crimes, including theft and murder. It is crucial that we create liability for telecoms that enable this behavior, and if necessary, Parliament must legislate to impose penalties on service providers,” Oboth remarked.
Oboth Oboth stressed the urgency of holding telecom companies accountable for allowing such practices to persist
The discussion concluded with a strong consensus among MPs on the need for urgent reforms to ensure telecom companies are held accountable, while the government investigates the ongoing issue of unregistered SIM card usage in the country. The threat posed by these criminal activities has prompted Parliament to consider new legislation aimed at tightening regulations and improving public safety.
Torch Media Africa
