NIRA stuck with 2,000 recovered national IDs 

NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION

KAMPALA- If you have lost or misplaced your national identification card, spare a moment to check the list of cards that have been recovered before you consider applying for a new one.

The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) is in possession of about 2,000 identity cards misplaced by their holders in several districts countrywide.

Gilbert Kadilo, the NIRA spokesperson, advised people who have lost their cards to first check with the authority before applying for a replacement.

"Instead of coming to us to replace their national Ids, people should check the list of those we have recovered since it saves time and costs," Kadilo told New Vision yesterday.

While registration for national IDs is free of charge, its replacement comes with a sh50,000 charge, in addition to banking fees.

The authority has set up a Lost and Found Cards section on its website where people who have lost their cards can check for their names.

Go to www.nira.go.ug and check under publications for a link to the LOST AND FOUND CARDS section. According to the list published online, Wakiso district has the highest number of misplaced cards (332).

Those seeking to collect their cards are required to go to the Nira headquarters at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala to retrieve them.

Mass registration for national Ids started in 2014 and the exercise was intended to help government to plan properly and provide easy access to a wide range of social services and facilities to the citizens.

The use of national IDs is gradually being rolled out in service delivery. In 2016, the national ID database was used to compile the national voters register by the Electoral Commission ahead of general elections.

Early this year, Uganda Communications Commission ordered all telecom operators to deny connection to subscribers who have no updated their customer information using their national IDs.

The IDs are valid for a period of ten years. Although they are currently being offered for free, Ugandans will pay a fee for renewal in 2024 and for damaged or stolen cards.

The first phase of registration was for Ugandans who are 16 years old and above, while the second phase of registration targeting students and pupils from the age of five to 16 was held last year.

The registration of school-going children, held for a period of three months from May 29 to August 31, captured data for 9.8 million out of the anticipated 10 million.

While students who are 16 years old and above will get national IDs, those below the age of 16 are assigned a National Identification Number (NIN) which they will carry for life.

According to Kadilo, students who missed the registration exercise can register at the NIRA head office in Kololo and NIRA regional centres in Gulu, Mbale, Mbarara and Jinja.