An alleged illegal operation involving the registration and sale of Airtel, MTN and Lyca SIM cards using other people’s National Identification Cards and duplicated passport documents has been uncovered in Kampala. Three suspects were arrested on August 5, 2026, during a joint police operation at New Park Wholesale Building in Kampala’s Central Division, where officers recovered SIM cards, fingerprint scanners, registration books and several National Identification Cards.
Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said the operation followed information received in late July about suspected illegal activities involving SIM card registration and duplication of identification documents. “We received information that some tenants were duplicating mobile phone lines using different National Identification Cards obtained from customers,” Owoyesigyire said.
He said the suspects were also allegedly duplicating passport documents and using them to register new SIM cards for different individuals. “They 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,” he said.
The operation was conducted by officers from the Central Police Station Kampala Crime Unit and Old Kampala Police Division, who searched three shops and arrested the three suspects. Other suspects believed to be connected to the alleged activities remain at large. Police recovered new Airtel, MTN and Lyca SIM cards, fingerprint scanners, Airtel and MTN registration books and several National Identification Cards.
Owoyesigyire said preliminary findings indicate that some of the recovered identification documents may have been used to register multiple SIM cards for different individuals. “Police have since written to the respective telecommunications companies to obtain information relating to the recovered SIM cards,” he said. Police have also written to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to establish the registered owners of the recovered National Identification Cards.
Owoyesigyire said inquiries were also being conducted with Airtel and MTN to establish whether the suspects were authorised agents of the companies. The three suspects are currently assisting police with investigations, while efforts are continuing to trace other people believed to have been involved in the alleged activities. “Police would like to reassure the public that investigations are continuing, and further details will be provided as soon as they become available,” Owoyesigyire said-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
