Telecom agents remanded over illegal SIM-card registration
What you need to know:
Police records indicate that some of the cases that were facilitated by illegally registered SIM-cards includes the gruesome kidnap and murder of Susan Magara
KAMPALA.
Ten telecom agents have been arraigned before Makindye and Mwanga II Magistrate’s Courts, on charges of using individual Identity Cards (IDs) to register SIM-cards, suspected to have been used in aiding a wave of crime in the country.
The group is charged with counts ranging from obtaining registration by false pretence and unlawfully using another person’s ID to register other SIM-cards.
The suspects who appeared before Makindye Court include; Shakira Babirye, Vicent Muwanguzi, Recheal Nansubuga, Ruth Nakafeero and Ronald Lameck Kato.
In sessions presided over magistrates, Sarah Namusobya and Julius Mwesigye all accused persons denied the offences.
Other accused persons who appeared at Mwanga II Court are Mary Namugerwa, Sandra Namakula, Edrine Tamale, Mike Lubyayi and Shamira Babirye.
Court remanded the suspects to Luzira prison until May 28, when they will return for bail application.
Prosecution contends that the individuals whose National Identity cards were misused by the accused are John Paul Kawooya, Uzaifah Kawooya, Rose Batwaala, Annet Kemigisha, Africana Turyamuboona and Emmanuel Lugoloobi among others.
Police records indicate that some of the cases that were facilitated by illegally registered SIM-cards includes the gruesome kidnap and murder of Susan Magara.
Magara who was a cashier with Bwendero Dairy Farm (BDF) was kidnapped while driving to her home in Lungujja, Rubaga Division and taken in captive for 20 days until she was murdered in cold blood without security agencies having a clue where the killers were.
The kidnappers reportedly used 17 phone SIM cards throughout the hostage period to demand USD1 million ransom.
Another incident was on March 31 two brothers were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old girl, Resty Kahunde, a daughter to Ms Beatrice Kahunde and Mr Samuel Mugenyi.
Ms Kahunde (mother) of the toddler was referred to Kyenjojo police on March 24, two days after her daughter had been kidnapped. They tracked the phone calls and arrested a boda boda rider who led them to his brother’s home where he was hiding the child.
Still, on April 14, police arrested five people for allegedly kidnapping a two-year-old child in Kitezi -Wakiso District. The suspects were found hiding the child in one of their homes and were calling the toddler's parents demanding for ransom.
