The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has welcomed court action against people convicted of vandalising telecommunications infrastructure and violating subscriber identity module (SIM) card registration procedures.
The regulator reported breakthroughs in two cases this week, including the sentencing of Sibaminya Sadick to five years' imprisonment.
The Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court found him guilty after evidence showed that, in March, he unlawfully entered a telecommunications mast site in Kibaale District, cut and removed critical telecommunications equipment and cables and was arrested at the scene.
The damaged infrastructure was valued at USh23.6 million (about US$6,311).
He was convicted under the Uganda Communications Act, 2013. The court sentenced him to one year for criminal trespass, two years for vandalism and two years for theft.
"We welcome the five-year sentence imposed on Sibaminya Sadick following his conviction for vandalising telecommunications infrastructure," the UCC said.
"UCC remains committed to protecting Uganda's communications infrastructure, which is critical to delivering reliable voice, internet, broadcasting, financial, education, healthcare and emergency communication services."
Also this week, UCC said Airtel Uganda agent Patrick Wanyera was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for breaching SIM card registration procedures.
He had been convicted of registering a subscriber outside an approved SIM card registration point, signing the subscriber registration form on behalf of the customer and issuing the SIM card in violation of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Regulations, 2024.
The illegally registered SIM card was later used to defraud a student in a bogus scholarship scheme.
UCC said the conviction demonstrated that vandalising communications infrastructure and breaching SIM card registration rules carry severe legal consequences.
"This case serves as a reminder that compliance with SIM card registration procedures is crucial for protecting consumers and preventing communications-related crimes."
UCC has pledged to strengthen regulatory oversight to ensure communications service providers effectively supervise their employees, agents and third parties.
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