KAMPALA — Police in Kampala have arrested three people over the alleged unauthorised registration and sale of Airtel, MTN and Lyca SIM cards, as well as the suspected possession and misuse of national identification documents.
The suspects were arrested on August 5, 2026, during a joint operation conducted by officers from the Central Police Station Kampala Crime Unit and Old Kampala Police Division at New Park Wholesale Building in Kampala’s Central Division.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police North, the operation followed information received in late July alleging that some tenants at the building were involved in duplicating mobile phone lines using National Identification Cards obtained from customers.
Police also received allegations that the suspects were duplicating passport documents and using them to register new SIM cards for different individuals, while also selling and registering SIM cards without the required authorisation.
During the operation, police searched three shops and arrested three suspects, while other people allegedly connected to the activities remain at large.
Police said they recovered several exhibits, including new Airtel, MTN and Lyca SIM cards, fingerprint scanners, Airtel and MTN registration books and several National Identification Cards.
Preliminary findings indicate that some of the recovered identification documents were allegedly used to register multiple SIM cards belonging to different individuals.
Police have written to the respective telecommunications companies seeking information about the recovered SIM cards.
They have also contacted the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to establish the particulars of the registered owners of the recovered National Identification Cards.
Investigators are further engaging Airtel and MTN to establish whether the suspects were authorised agents of the telecommunications companies.
The three suspects remain in police custody and are assisting with investigations, while efforts are underway to trace other people believed to be involved in the alleged scheme.
Police warned the public against surrendering their identification documents to unauthorised individuals for SIM card registration and urged members of the public to report suspicious activities involving national IDs, SIM cards and other identification documents.
ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Kampala Metropolitan Police, said investigations were ongoing and that further details would be provided as they become available.