Minister cautions against corruption in NIRA mass enrollment exercise

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | State Minister for Internal Affairs General David Muhoozi has warned Internal Security Officers and village Chairmen against accepting bribes to recommend non-citizens for mass enrollment and renewal of National Identification cards.

The National Identification Registration Authority is expected to embark on the mass enrollment and renewal of National IDs starting June this year. In preparation for the exercise, NIRA has embarked on the sensitization of leaders and other stakeholders ahead of the exercise.

While meeting the stakeholders from Greater Luwero Districts on Tuesday, area leaders expressed fear that with the current influx of refugees, the exercise may see non-citizens enrolled as nationals. There are over 1.6 million refugees in the country at the moment, some of whom, have ended up settling in towns including Luwero town council.

Luwero District Kadhi Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa said that some refugees have acquired land and established permanent homes in the area, and fears that such people may bribe area leaders for recommendations and end up being registered as citizens.

Nakasongola District Kadhi Habibu Kikabi says that because some are landlords, even the residents fear pointing at them as non-citizens which may ease their illegal acquisition of citizenship.

But Gen Muhoozi explained that the village leaders and Internal Security Officers have been tasked to verify that people registered at the parish level are Ugandans within the four listed categories in the Constitution.

Muhoozi warned the leaders against issuing recommendation letters to non-citizens for registration saying it is tantamount to selling the nation’s sovereignty.

Rosemary Kisembo, the Executive Director of the National Identification Registration Authority asked the officers to protect the interest of the Country by ensuring the right people are registered in the exercise. She also asked nationals to report any NIRA official asking for a bribe in the execution of the mandate.

NIRA intends to carry mass enrollment of 17.2 million people and renew the national Identification Cards of 15.8 million people.

****

URN