The Rwanda Utility Regulatory Agency (RURA) in conjuction with the National ID project have announced that all SIM Cards will be registered and details of their bearers synchronized.

Maj. Francois Regis Gatarayiha of RURA noted that all phone holders will have to register their SIM card numbers and provide their personal identification details.

All those sim cards unregistered will be blocked off air or will not function.

There are about 5million phone users in Rwanda all subscribed to three major telecommunication companies MTN, TIGO and Airtel.

The Free registration process will be conducted between February 4, 2013 upto July 31, 2013.

RURA notes that this will help the the fight against rising crime especially kidnapping, theft through mobile money transfer.