Proportionate regulation in Uganda: A gateway for refugees accessing mobile services in their own name

The government of Uganda has endorsed a new directive to the mobile industry that allows refugees, who do not have government-issued identity documents (ID), to legally sign up for mobile-enabled services in their own names. In this regard, GSMA published a study that looks at how this new policy change led to the activation of SIM-enabled services by mobile network operators (MNOs) and the impact this has had on the wellbeing of refugees in Uganda. The new policy helped to overcome regulatory barriers that left refugees in Uganda unconnected and contributed to their digital and financial exclusion. This policy reform is a best practice that could be replicated in other countries where displaced people are still left behind with no mobile access.