NIRA decries old equipment, low staffing

Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  National Identification Registration Authority-NIRA officials have pleaded with the Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance Minister, Judith Nabakooba to push for the procurement of new equipment.   

A team of NIRA officials, who met the Minister at their Eastern Regional Offices in Mbale City on Friday said that they are struggling to operate with very old equipment procured over 10-years-ago.  

They also pleaded with the Minister to lobby for the recruitment of more staff, saying the low staffing levels and old equipment has impacted the delivery of their mandate of providing registration services in the country.  

Nabakooba was on a fact-finding mission on the activities of the ICT sector in the Eastern Region including the One-Stop Border Point in Busia, Tororo, Posta Uganda and NIRA.  

Edwin Tukamuhabwe, the Manager Registration and Operations and Field Support told the Minister that the equipment, which includes computers and cameras among others that they are using for National IDs, birth and death registration were procured in 2010 and 2014.

He says the machines have become very slow due to wear and tear, which has impacted heavily on their work.  

Gilbert Kadilo, the Manager of Communications at NIRA told journalists that the Agency is operating at half capacity against the approved staffing structure of 800 people.

According to him, the agency has 116 service centers across the country that need staff to effectively deliver services and perform optimally.   

Brig. Stephen Kwiringira, the NIRA Acting Executive Director, told the minister that there is need for additional Human Resource to improve the service delivery.

In her response, Nabakooba said acknowledged the problem of equipment, saying they are too old and worn out. She said that the government is aware of the challenges in NIRA and is working around the clock to find solutions.    

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