Parliament has ordered the removal of lawmakers’ personal telephone numbers from its official online platforms and records following reports that fraudsters are using the contacts to target MPs.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa issued the directive while chairing Wednesday’s plenary sitting, instructing the Clerk to Parliament to ensure the numbers are erased without delay.
“The Leadership of Parliament has directed the Clerk to Parliament to immediately erase all personal telephone numbers of Members of Parliament from all official platforms,” Tayebwa told the House.
He said investigations had established that fraudsters were obtaining MPs’ contacts through Google searches and parliamentary websites before using them to deceive and solicit money from the legislators.
“Our investigations indicate that conmen are picking contacts of MPs from Google and using them to trick and defraud the legislators,” he said. Several MPs have reportedly received persistent calls from individuals pretending to be in need of financial assistance or impersonating senior government officials to solicit money. The problem has persisted for years, with similar complaints raised during the 11th Parliament.
Tayebwa was among the legislators who previously expressed concern about fraudsters exploiting publicly available telephone numbers. The latest directive is intended to protect lawmakers’ privacy and personal security while maintaining official channels through which constituents can communicate with their representatives.
It also highlights the risks associated with making personal contact information publicly accessible, particularly as phone-based scams and identity impersonation remain concerns. By removing the numbers from official platforms, Parliament hopes to limit fraudsters’ access to lawmakers while preserving legitimate communication between MPs and the public-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
