NIRA officials summoned over bribery allegations

Top officials from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) spent the better part of yesterday at the offices of the State House Anti Corruption Unit where they were tasked to explain reports that people had to bribe employees in order to get national IDs.

After several hours, the team led by the director for registration Brig Steven Kwiringira admitted that some of their employees could be corrupt but promised to deal with the vice firmly.

Kwiringira said they had set up toll free numbers for the public to report any acts of bribery or extortion.

The numbers are 0702191919, 0772580637.

Many people seeking to get national IDs or other services from NIRA have had to part with some money as a way of facilitating the process.

We were told that the team was questioned by the unit on what measures they had put in place to fight the vice.

The questioning was lead by Lt Col Edith Nakalema, the head of the unit.

In the meeting, the team from NIRA admitted that indeed there are a lot of ills but maintained that they were working round the clock to weed out the wrong elements.

After the meeting, it was agreed that NIRA furnishes the unit with the steps it will take to fight bribery and other ills. 

With the national identity card becoming an integral part of day to day life , many desperate people have found themselves parting with money to get help.