Uganda to turn off fake phones next year

Uganda is to follow Kenya by disconnecting all fake mobile phones in a four phase clampdown over the next six months.

Interest in nationwide shutoffs of counterfeit mobile phones has spread across East Africa since Kenya took action earlier this year. Uganda is among the first to detail concrete plans about how it will stop the use of fake handsets.

In a press release, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) calls on citizens to check the status of their phones online or via text message. Fake phones will then be shut off by July 1, 2013.

While this is going on, any new counterfeit phones that are yet to subscribe to a network will be denied access. UCC is also reviewing handling of waste management and IMEI (International Mobile Station Equipment Identity) cloning.

A comment period is now open to give industry a chance to voice concerns about the plan. In recent months companies - notably Samsung - have publicly called on Uganda to tackle the spread of fake phones.