KAMPALA, Uganda — Three people have been arrested in Kampala over allegations of illegally registering and selling mobile phone SIM cards using national identification documents believed to have been obtained from members of the public, police have said.
The suspects were arrested during a police operation at New Park Wholesale Building in Kampala’s Central Division on August 5, following intelligence about alleged SIM card duplication and the suspected misuse of identification documents.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire said the suspects allegedly used different National Identification Cards to duplicate mobile phone lines and register new SIM cards for different individuals without the required authorisation.
“The individuals were also suspected of duplicating passport documents and using them to register new SIM cards for different individuals, as well as selling and registering Airtel, MTN and other network SIM cards without the required authorisation,” Owoyesigyire said.
The operation was conducted by officers from the Crime Department at Central Police Station Kampala and Old Kampala Police Division after information was received in late July about the alleged activities.
Police searched three shops during the operation and arrested three suspects. Other people believed to be connected to the alleged scheme remain at large.
Among the items recovered were new Airtel, MTN and Lyca SIM cards, fingerprint scanners, registration books for Airtel and MTN, and several National Identification Cards.
Police said preliminary findings indicate that some of the recovered identification documents were allegedly used to register multiple SIM cards for different individuals.
Investigators have since contacted the telecommunications companies involved to establish the ownership and registration history of the recovered SIM cards. Police are also seeking to determine whether the suspects were authorised agents of Airtel and MTN permitted to register and distribute SIM cards on their behalf.
The National Identification and Registration Authority, or NIRA, has also been contacted to establish the full particulars of the registered owners of the National Identification Cards recovered during the operation.
The investigation comes amid wider concerns over the security of personal identification information and the potential misuse of improperly registered mobile phone numbers, which can make it harder for authorities to establish the true identity of a phone user.
The three suspects are currently assisting police with investigations as officers continue efforts to trace other people believed to have been involved in the alleged activities.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
