Perhaps one of the most annoying thing about being a Ugandan
at this time in history is the fact that technology and other advancements in
the country are moving so fast than political reform. As a result of this,
most active Ugandan citizens and the elites find themselves in a serious
dilemma of whether to gloriously embrace the advances or to proceed with
caution.
Out of the 16 million mobile phone subscribers, reports
indicate only 11 million heeded to the call of SIM Card registration and the
remaining 5 million have so far shunned it prompting the regulatory body Uganda Communications Commission(UCC) to extend the registration deadline. Even then, the
11 million figure is deceptive. Most Ugandans wary of their privacy because they
don't trust government with what they can do with the information they collect
about them have found loopholes in the registration exercise and have provided
fake information to telecom companies to back these registrations.
All said and done, the exercise has not gone on
unchallenged. The Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda raised concerns
about the exercise saying the law contravenes Article 27(2) of the 1995 Uganda Constitution and unsuccessfully moved to acquire a court injunction to stop UCC
from disconnecting unregistered subscribers.
WHAT IS REALLY AT
RISK?
Telecommunication companies keep subscriber data in amounts
you cannot comprehend. Every time you make a phone call or send a text message it's
possible that someone else without your knowledge not only listened to what you said and read what
message you sent but also was able to know the date, time, location and now,
your identity.
With the growth of social media accompanied by free
expression of political opinions and the increasing use of mobile devices to
access internet, government agents with or without a court order will walk to
your Network Provider acquire your information and build a profile of your
political affiliations, business interests, social habits, your movements and generally
your personal life regardless of whether you have committed a crime or not.
Imagine if someone stole your phone and used it to commit a
crime. You can easily find yourself in the coolers within no minute. First, our
Uganda police has no seriousness and later on the capacity to quickly separate
the victim from the criminal. Secondly, the Uganda Police
stations by their very nature only offer ugly scenes to look at and the last
thing anyone would want is to be haled in the middle of a corrupt police force.
with rogue elements in state departments and a government
bent at retaining power at any cost, Ugandans are slowly but surely losing
their right to privacy and by registering your SIM Card you enter into a legal
contract to be monitored 24/7.
If you are the type that feels inconvenienced by old
technology of walkie talkies, then you can go a little bit rudimentary like me;
find a Nice Plastics cup, drill a small hole at the centre of its bottom, pass a
string in the hole and tie a knot to hold it in position, do the same at the
other end of the string, initiate a conversation with your partner at other end
of string by talking and listening in turn.
Congratulations!! Welcome aboard Mzee Kaguta's Uganda.
