NIRA Expo: Biometrics reshape how identities are verified
“We are giving expo visitors an opportunity to learn more about biometric identification and how these technologies can support secure services,” Rubalema said.
Biometric identification works by capturing a person's unique physical characteristics and matching them against information already stored in a system. Fingerprints, facial features and the patterns in a person's iris can all be used for this purpose. (Credit: Ponsiano Nsimbi)
KAMPALA - From fingerprints and facial recognition to iris scans, biometric technology is increasingly changing how people prove their identities and access services.
At the My Identity Expo and Symposium 2026 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, technology firm Compulynx is showcasing solutions that use a person's unique biological features to verify their identity and improve the security of transactions and services.
The company's systems combine biometric technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to provide an additional layer of security for organisations handling sensitive personal and financial information.
One of the solutions on display is designed to strengthen transactions where people traditionally use a bank card and personal identification number (PIN).
It uses biometric verification as an additional security check, helping to confirm that the person making the transaction is the rightful cardholder. Compulynx is also demonstrating how the technology can be applied in education through its Student Identity Management solution.
The system combines smart cards with biometric identification to enable students to use one card to access different services within an institution, including the library, bookshop and cafeteria. (Credit: Ponsiano Nsimbi)
The system combines smart cards with biometric identification to enable students to use one card to access different services within an institution, including the library, bookshop and cafeteria.
It can also support cashless payments. Caleb Rubalema, a software developer at Compulynx, said the expo is helping members of the public understand how biometric information can be used to verify identities.
“We are giving expo visitors an opportunity to learn more about biometric identification and how these technologies can support secure services,” Rubalema said.
He said the company's biometric scanning solutions can be used by organisations that require quick and reliable identity verification, including banks, savings organisations such as VLS and e-beneficiary services.
Members of the public can access several services at the expo free of charge while learning more about national identification and civil registration processes. (Credit: Ponsiano Nsimbi)
Biometric identification works by capturing a person's unique physical characteristics and matching them against information already stored in a system.
The technology is particularly useful in situations where organisations need to confirm that an individual is who they claim to be before providing a service or completing a transaction.
Members of the public can access several services at the expo free of charge while learning more about national identification and civil registration processes.
The expo is also highlighting the importance of birth registration and obtaining official identity and civil registration documents.
The expo is also highlighting the importance of birth registration and obtaining official identity and civil registration documents. (Credit: Ponsiano Nsimbi)
For Compulynx, the exhibition provides an opportunity to demonstrate how biometric technology can be applied beyond national identification to areas such as banking, education and other services that require secure identity verification.
The expo was organised by NIRA and sponsored by Vision Group, Bank of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), NITA-U and Tahaluf. It has brought a range of identity and civil registration services under one roof.