For legitimate phone vendors, tackling the issue of fake phones has remained a challenge.

"We do not have the competency to handle fake phones particularly. Much as we work together with UCC to counter counterfeits, it is not our direct responsibility," says Ben Manyindo, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) acting executive director.

UCC, the telecoms regulator, also seems to be facing the same challenge.

"It is not as easy as it seems to switch off all SIM cards used in counterfeit phones. It would require a huge investment in technology and personnel," argues the UCC's Otunnu.

The last five years has seen a growth in popularity of what are termed "Chinese phones." In fact, only the appearance of a popular brand is cloned. The operating system is not the same as that used in the original phone. There are numerous differences in various features, but the low prices make the clone versions very attractive across sub-Sahara Africa.