The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) announces a massive registration of Nationals that will commence in June 2024 in all parts of the country. Only 27 million Ugandans are registered with NIRA despite a growth of population to about 45 million people.
All citizens without NIN numbers will be registered and issued with NIN and national identity cards at a fee not disclose because the figure was not yet agreed upon by the policy makers in the Authority. A total of 17 million people is targeted.
While addressing Journalist at Naguru Police Headquarters, Rosemary Kisembo NIRA’s Executive Director said that those who will be renewing their IDs will not be charged but those requiring replacing lost ones will be charged fees which are yet to be determined by the authority. She also said that the policy also requires that every Ugandan who have attained the age of 16 years should be issued with National a Identity card.
Mrs. Kisembo also stressed the need for every Ugandan irrespective of his or her status to have a NIN number because it will be a pre-requisite for one to access government services say in hospitals, schools or in higher institution of learning.
“This time round we are also going to capture the eyelash in addition to the ten finger prints and face identification features because we realized that there are people without fingers yet the former is a different unique feature for every person based on science.” Mrs.Kisembo revealed.
“We have increased the biometrics for easy identification for instance if some individuals’ body parts are damaged, then others will be capture and they will appear well on the identity card.” She said.
She warned non-citizens for instance refugees not to dare surface for the exercise because its meant for only nationals however there are people who assumed citizenship through naturalization and these will be required to first get confirmation certificates from the ministry of internal Affairs before they present themselves for registration.
Citizens living in diaspora but have dual citizenship will be given a certificate of registration with NIN. Those who wish to applaud their data can access NIRA App for pre- registration but when it comes to the Bio data, they will have to appear physically at the designated registration center in their respective parishes.
The ten months exercise that is kick starting in June this year, will commence with the recruitment of Registration Assistants and Data processors who are required to have a minimum qualification of Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) , people from that very district and are proficient in the area local language were they will have applied to work from.
The recruitment according to Mrs Kisembo will be carried out at District level and advertisements for such jobs will be out before this month games and applicants must be recommended by the area LC I chairpersons to confirm that they are well conversant with the people in such areas to avoid registering those who are not eligible.
By George Bukenya