Army not taking over National ID project - Gov't

Apr 07, 2015

Government has said there are no plans to hand over the management of National Identity Card (ID) project to Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).

By John Semakula

Government has said there are no plans to hand over the management of National Identity Card (ID) project to Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).

The spokesperson of Ministry of Internal Affairs, Pamela Ankuda told New Vision that UPDF soldiers will not take over the project.

Several media outlets reported recently that the army had taken over the ID project after the civilian managers who were running the project failed to live up to their expectations.

Ankuda instead revealed that the National Security Information Systems Project which is in charge of producing and issuing IDs is transitioning into an Authority.

“The army was only part of the multi- sectoral system that has been working on the IDs,” she said.

New Vision has learnt that the transition will be similar to what happened to the defunct Kampala City Council (KCC) as it metamorphosed into Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

Parliament recently endorsed the Registration of Persons Bill which paved way for the creation of the Authority. The Bill is yet to be signed by President Yoweri Museveni.

The Authority will be in charge of registering citizens who clock 18 years of age.

Ankunda said after the transition, the fate of the existing staff running the project will be determined by the new board. She said the board will be free to lay off some, retain others and also recruit news ones.

Ankunda added that the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima will soon constitute the Board for the Authority as soon as soon as the law is in place.

She assured Ugandans who have not yet received IDs that they will get them soon.

Ankuda said the minister is expected to launch a Roadmap for national-wide issuance of the IDs. The IDs will be used in the forthcoming general elections to identify voters.

EC deputy spokesperson, Paul Bukenya said voters whose data is captured in the Voters’ Register will be allowed to vote even without their National IDs.

“What happens if you lose your ID in the morning of the Voting Day? Won’t you vote? What is important is that your details are captured in the Voter’s Register and that you can be identified,” Bukenya explained.
 

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