Parliament Orders Removal of MPs' Phone Numbers Over Fraud Concerns

The Parliament of Uganda has taken decisive action to protect its members from ongoing scams, ordering the immediate removal of all personal telephone numbers from official online platforms and public records.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa issued the directive during a plenary sitting. He instructed the Clerk to Parliament to ensure the contact details are scrubbed from all parliamentary websites without delay to prevent further security breaches.

The directive follows growing concerns that fraudsters have been harvesting legislators’ contact information through simple Google searches and the official parliamentary directory. According to investigations cited by the Deputy Speaker, criminals have been utilizing these publicly accessible numbers to solicit money under false pretences, frequently impersonating senior government officials or staging elaborate financial distress calls.

This security vulnerability is not entirely new. The problem has persisted across multiple legislative terms, with numerous complaints previously raised during the 11th Parliament. Deputy Speaker Tayebwa himself had previously voiced concerns regarding how bad actors exploit publicly listed contact details to target unsuspecting leaders.

While the removal of the numbers is expected to curb direct digital harvesting from official sources, lawmakers and the public alike remain advised to exercise caution against unsolicited requests for financial assistance attributed to members of the House.

Read more details on the The Observer.