NIRA officials overwhelmed by surging turnout in Kiryandongo

KIRYANDONGO - Officials from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in Kiryandongo district have been overwhelmed by the large numbers of people turning up for registration and updates of national identity cards.

According to Hakim Mutesasira, the assistant registrar for NIRA in Kiryandongo, the high turnout is attributed to the district's large population, coupled with inadequate staffing levels to handle the demand.

“The most affected sub-counties with overwhelming numbers include Bweyale Town Council, Kigumba, and Karuma. We are also being hampered by unpredictable weather, and some areas are difficult to access. Our prayer to our bosses is to provide us with more staff and additional kits,” said Mutesasira.

Currently, the NIRA board chairperson is in the region to assess the progress of the ongoing mass enrolment and ID renewal exercise.

The assessment began in Kiryandongo district and is scheduled to continue to Masindi, Hoima, and other districts on Tuesday and Wednesday.

While in Kiryandongo, the deputy resident district commissioner, Jonathan Akweiteireho noted that allegations of corruption, bribery, and extortion have been reported. One person has already been apprehended and taken to court.

“One person was arrested for selling registration forms and is already in court. They were charging between sh5,000 and sh20,000. Some of these individuals falsely claim to be NIRA officials. The issue of unstable electricity is also slowing down the process, but we are committed to ensuring that the exercise proceeds smoothly,” Akweiteireho said.

A section of Kiryandongo district residents waiting to be worked on by NIRA officials. (Credit: Yosam Gucwaki)

He reiterated concerns about the overwhelming number of people turning up at registration centres, calling for urgent intervention.

He added that unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of the large crowds to con people. “In Bweyale Town Council, for instance, you find over 1,000 people turning up, yet NIRA officials can only process about 100 individuals,” he said.

NIRA board chairperson Joseph Biribonwa noted that the authority aims to renew 15 million national identity cards, with four million already completed.

“We have not encountered major challenges except for some corruption allegations, which we are addressing. The exercise is entirely free of charge, and no one should be asked to pay money,” he said.

Biribonwa further advised that the Maragoli community should not register, as they are not recognised as Ugandan citizens under the current Constitution.

“Unless an amendment is made to the Constitution to include them, they cannot be registered,” he said.

To address the challenge of high numbers, Biribonwa said more staff and kits would be deployed. He urged residents in Bunyoro not to panic, assuring them that there is still ample time to complete the exercise.

He also appealed to stakeholders in Bunyoro to assist in identifying any NIRA officials involved in corruption.

Several residents who spoke to New Vision expressed concern over long delays at registration centres, particularly given the long distances they had to walk.

Osborne Mushabe, NIRA’s public relations manager, encouraged parents to register their children, emphasising that one must have an ID to access services.