The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ephraim Kamuntu, has pledged government support to strengthen the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), describing the National Identification Register as a critical national asset for Uganda's security, development and crime prevention.
Kamuntu made the commitment during a visit to NIRA headquarters, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu. The delegation was received by the NIRA Board, Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo, and staff before touring the Authority's facilities.
During the visit, the Minister interacted with members of the public seeking civil registration and national identification services, saying their feedback would help inform government efforts to improve service delivery.
"Knowing and registering citizens is critical for the security and transformation of the country," Kamuntu said.
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NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo said the Authority now maintains records for more than 35 million Ugandans, representing over 73 percent of the country's population. She noted that registration services have been expanded to all 135 districts.
However, Kisembo said staffing remains one of the Authority's biggest challenges, with NIRA operating at only 70 percent of its approved workforce. She revealed that 25 districts are currently served by just one NIRA staff member, affecting service delivery.
"We look forward to benefiting from your wealth of experience in governance and academia as we continue to advance NIRA's mandate," Kisembo said.
Representing the NIRA Board Chairperson, Deputy Vice Chairperson Benny Namugwanya Bugembe appealed for government support to secure a permanent headquarters and district offices for NIRA, fill two vacant Board positions, and provide additional wage funding to address staffing shortages.
Permanent Secretary Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu congratulated NIRA on the successful completion of the recent Mass Enrolment and Renewal Exercise, noting that it had significantly contributed to updating the national voters' register while increasing citizen registration.
Kamuntu reiterated that accurate citizen identification is the foundation of national security and urged NIRA to continue enhancing customer service through technology while remaining vigilant against emerging cybersecurity threats.
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"Having accurate records is the beginning of security," Kamuntu said.
