Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | If not checked, incidents of bribery, logistical mess ups, and miserable net connectivity in a amount of parts of the country could perhaps presumably affect the continuing mass National Identification Card registration and renewal exercise.
The exercise, has attracted overwhelming crowds, lengthy queues, and rising frustrations, constructing opportunities for corruption and inefficiency. In Masaka, residents at some registration centres reported final week being asked to pay bribes of on the very least 5,000 shillings to enrollment officers in replace for sooner service. It is now four weeks for the reason that National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) launched a countrywide exercise to enable Ugandans to replace their info within the national database.
Sarah Nakayiza, a resident of Market Cell in Nyendo Ward, Masaka Metropolis, says that those unable to pay are subjected to lengthy delays.
“Some folks are even going serve without being registered. May per chance must you evaluate the orchestrated frustrations, folks decide to pay the bribe fairly than take a seat up for an unknown length,” she explained.
Masaka Resident Metropolis Commissioner Ahamada Washaki confirmed receiving reports of bribery and acknowledged his space of job is taking motion to address the state. An identical allegations have emerged in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, where folks donning yellow T-shirts are allegedly appearing as middlemen, gathering bribes on behalf of enrollment officers.
On the Nansana Division Headquarters and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, residents instruct the exercise has been compromised. “You appropriate give that man 5,000 shillings, and he helps you have out the assemble and makes determined you’re served fast it’s not significant what time you got right here,” acknowledged Arnold Mukisa.
Dear @NIRA_Ug,
It is possible you’ll perhaps perhaps presumably presumably also just must completely supervise the final direction of of renewing IDs in Kisaasi and other parts of Kampala. There’s a obvious assemble folks are paying for 5k as they are renewing their National IDs. Isn’t the final direction of freed from tag?
Please spruce your residence! pic.twitter.com/4jiiDRD0Dn
— Erich Mboowa (@erich_mboowa) June 20, 2025
The mass National ID renewal exercise in Kisaasi,Kikulu Zone has this present day ended upfront after residents misplaced their patience & started exchanging phrases with the Files Entry officers & their local leaders.The residents accused their leaders of sabotaging the formulation by allegedly… pic.twitter.com/qDaADWJdUu
— Erich Mboowa (@erich_mboowa) June 20, 2025
Alice Nalango, one other resident, expressed disbelief that such practices are occurring in corpulent survey of legislation enforcement officers.
In Luwero Town Council, delays and instruments barriers are demanding residents. Kavule Parish Councillor Emmanuel Nsubuga says the high turnout, unhurried tempo, and restricted registration capability suggest some folks take a seat up for hours without success.
Nsubuga added that enrollment computer systems can most effective direction of a restricted preference of oldsters per session, and when the scheme stalls, the officers either discontinue or conclude the session.
At Luwero Sub-County Locations of work, higher than 150 folks had been left stranded when enrollment officers failed to return after vacating the premises for a council session. Richard Ssimbwa, the LC3 Chairperson, acknowledged the officers had promised to resume work on Monday nonetheless by no draw showed up.
In Kapchorwa Municipality, operations had been halted for 2 consecutive days due to an affect outage and failure of the backup generator. Diana Emma Chemutai, one of the significant registration officers, acknowledged they had been unable to proceed without electricity.
“The generator is purported to form an different source of energy, nonetheless it absolutely has not helped us at all. We are unable to proceed with the registration,” Chemutai acknowledged. In Moroto District, head of operations Susan Talep cited miserable community connectivity, insufficient furniture, and shortage of shade as major hurdles. She acknowledged teams veritably must have a look at residents to distant cattle kraals, spending hours appropriate attempting to join to the central server.
At Onduparaka Headquarters in Ayivu Division, Arua Metropolis, delays are being attributable to residents who can’t recall their National Identification Numbers (NINs) after losing their ID cards. Eunice Etoru, the head of the registration exercise within the residence, acknowledged workers are forced to utilize beyond regular time retrieving info.
With the exercise persevering with within the approaching weeks, residents and local leaders are calling on NIRA to increase logistical capability, deploy more workers, and streamline processes to slash again corruption and inefficiencies.
****
URN
