The dramatic vote came during an afternoon plenary session chaired by Rebecca Kadaga, only hours before the midnight deadline when the Uganda Communications Commission had threatened to deactivate all unverified phone lines across the country.
The looming switch-off had triggered panic among millions of Ugandans. Long queues formed at telecom service centres as people rushed to verify their SIM cards using National Identity Cards issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority.
Earlier that same day, the High Court in Kampala, led by Justice Stephen Musota, dismissed an attempt by Rights Trumpet Ltd and activist Norman Tumuhimbise to temporarily block the deactivation exercise.
With the legal challenge failing, telecom operators intensified pressure on subscribers. Some telecom operators introduced temporary “soft suspensions” on some lines to push users into compliance, increasing fears of a nationwide communication blackout.
Inside Parliament, the pushback was led by then Leader of the Opposition Winnie Kiiza, who tabled a motion urging the government and UCC to extend the deadline.
She argued that the verification exercise had unfairly disadvantaged rural communities because instructions from telecom companies were largely sent in English and Luganda, leaving many Ugandans unable to understand the process. She also warned that elderly citizens in remote areas had not received adequate guidance or support.
The motion quickly attracted bipartisan support.
Wilfred Niwagaba seconded the proposal, questioning whether NIRA had the capacity to issue National Identity Cards to every eligible citizen within the required timeframe. He also raised constitutional concerns about privacy and data protection, arguing that Uganda lacked a comprehensive legal framework to safeguard citizens’ information.
Then government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa acknowledged that while the SIM verification exercise had been driven by national security concerns, an extension was necessary given the logistical challenges facing the public.
Recognising the overwhelming support in the chamber, Kadaga put the matter to a vote before declaring: “Honourable members, the proposal is that the extension runs for no more than one year. And the ayes have it.”
The resolution immediately sparked a confrontation between Parliament and the executive. Then ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze publicly insisted that the UCC deadline remained in force despite Parliament’s position.
The standoff only eased after intervention from President Yoweri Museveni, who later backed a compromise extension until August 30, 2017. The decision effectively halted the immediate deactivation plan and forced a policy retreat by the government, with Tumwebaze later apologising to Parliament for defying the House resolution.