By Ben Musanje
A court in Kampala has convicted a SIM card registration agent for illegally registering a SIM card that was later used in a fraudulent scholarship scam, underscoring growing concerns over non-compliance with Uganda’s SIM card registration laws.
Patrick Wanyera, also known as Sandra, an employee of Old Green City Holdings Ltd and an Airtel Uganda registration agent based in Tororo District, was sentenced by the Standards and Utilities Court at Makindye to one year in prison or a fine of UGX 500,000 after pleading guilty to violating Regulation 28 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024.
The court accepted a plea bargain agreement presented by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) prosecutors Kevin Bakulumpagi and Naziri Kagawa. Wanyera, a first-time offender, opted to pay the fine and was released.
According to court records, on January 16, 2025, at Paita Trading Centre in Tororo District, Wanyera unlawfully registered a SIM card in the name of Joseph Oburu without his knowledge or consent. Although Oburu had attempted to register the line, he was informed that the activation had failed. However, Wanyera proceeded to process the registration, signed the subscriber registration form on the customer’s behalf, and issued the SIM card outside the authorized registration procedures.
Investigations later revealed that the illegally registered SIM card was used to facilitate fraud. In September 2025, a student, Sandra Ayebazibwe, lost UGX 400,000 after being deceived into paying what she believed were processing fees for a scholarship opportunity to study abroad. The fraudsters used the improperly registered SIM card to execute the scam.
The case came to light after investigations traced the SIM card back to Oburu, who explained that he had never received or activated the line despite providing his personal details during the registration process.
Wanyera was arrested on April 16 and remained on remand at Luzira Prison until the conclusion of the case. During sentencing, emotional scenes unfolded in court as his elderly mother broke down in tears after learning her son could avoid imprisonment by paying the fine. She immediately paid the UGX 500,000, securing his release.
In court, UCC prosecutors argued that illegal SIM card registration has become increasingly common and poses a serious threat by enabling fraud, identity theft and other communications-related crimes. They also noted that such practices undermine public confidence in telecommunications services and damage the reputation of both regulators and licensed telecom operators.
The trial magistrate considered Wanyera’s guilty plea, remorse, first-offender status and family responsibilities—including being the sole breadwinner for his wife and five-year-old twins—before imposing the alternative fine.
The Uganda Communications Commission said the conviction demonstrates its commitment to enforcing SIM card registration regulations and protecting the integrity of Uganda’s communications sector.
The regulator warned that irregular SIM card registration creates opportunities for fraud, financial crime and identity misuse, while reminding telecommunications operators of their responsibility to supervise employees, agents and third parties involved in subscriber registration.
Under Regulation 27 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024, telecommunications operators may face penalties of up to UGX 5 million for irregular SIM card registration.
UCC urged all SIM card registration agents to strictly follow prescribed registration procedures and advised members of the public to register SIM cards only at authorized registration centres using their own valid identification documents.
The Commission maintains that proper SIM card registration remains critical to consumer protection, accountability and the fight against communications-related crime, while supporting Uganda’s broader digital transformation agenda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
