National IDs issuance, replacements to be transferred to district level
The National Identification Regulatory Authority (NIRA) is set to open offices in 17 districts to enable those who lost their National Identification Cards get replacements from their districts and save them walking distances to Kampala to get the services.
Currently when one losses an ID its only at NIRA head offices in Kololo where one can get a replacement or make any changes in their data that was captured earlier. Now NIRA is working on opening other offices that will offer these services other than the headquarters.
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Under normal circumstances one would spend only two months according to NIRA to get a replacement. But during our visit to Central Division offices in Kampala where those seeking replacement pick their IDs, we found long queues.
Those we talked to told NilePost that they have frequented the offices for months now without getting their IDs. ‘’I am from Jinja I lost my ID last year, paid for replacement at Kololo but I have never gotten a replacement, I am almost giving up’’ said a one Molly Tusuubira.
Musau Brian a resident of Kween district had just gotten his ID after months of chasing for it, he says he is going to be more cautious not to lose it again, he says he has spent a lot of money moving back and forth for the ID this added to the fifty thousand he paid to the bank for replacement.
NIRA spokesperson Gilbert Kadilo assured Ugandans of better services since the authority is opening new offices to better services.
‘’Currently the services to do with the replacement of lost IDs or change of particulars including name change and those other services are only offered at Kololo for reasons that our district offices have not yet fully rolled out those services. Once we iron out all the challenges we have had, we shall be in position to roll out in the 17 districts through out the country.”
He adds that the recent directive from UCC that requires one to use a national ID to acquire a new sim card explains the high traffic at Kololo and Central Division headquarters.
By Slamah Namwanje
