Previously, to get a SIM swap required one to go to an authorised outlet with your phone and National ID. The registration form asked for things like the last calls received and made, and your mobile money balance. The Telecom outlet would then ask for a copy of your national ID too, and that was it. Those buying a new SIM card only had to provide their National ID and fill in a form.

New SIM card registration criteria

As of now, new criteria have to be met by those looking to swap their SIM cards or get new ones. They are as follows: Read more: Device IMEI Number: Find out whether your device is genuine or counterfeit Read more: UCC bans sale of airtime scratch cards effective 30th June 2018 Quotable: “We realised that the public needs the services. These are the interim measures until the API is in place. We are still working with NIRA.” Pamela Ankunda, Head of Public and International Relations, UCC. Telecom subscribers are hereby required to have letters from Police (a police report) and NIRA (verifying National ID biodata). On top of that, a subscriber is also expected to have a genuine device (mobile phone, router, MiFi, e.t.c). Unsure about this? Read our excellent post explaining IMEI codes [Device IMEI Number: Find out whether your device is genuine or counterfeit]

— UCCat20 (@UCC_Official) March 27, 2018 Once all these conditions have been met, consider yourself armed. One last thing, don’t forget your photo. The Mobile Network Operator will then issue a new SIM card registration form. Only after all the details have been filled can now get a new SIM card. However…anybody upcountry will have to hop on a bus and head to Kampala. NIRA currently only has offices in the city center serving the entire Ugandan population. So, good luck with that!