CID to play role in National ID mass enrolment project – Police Chief

______________________

The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) will play a role in the National Identification mass enrolment exercise which commences on June 1.

“We are ready to assist Uganda National, Identification, and Registration Authority (NIRA) in the upcoming mass enrolment and registration process, which plays a pivotal role in our collective fight against crime. Your commitment is invaluable as we work towards our shared goals of safety and security,” CID boss Maj. Tom Magambo said.

He was on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, addressing CID regional and Divisional officers at a two-day training at CID headquarters in Kampala organized by NIRA.

The NIRA executive Director Rosemary Kisembo explained that training focuses on equipping CID officers to excel in the registration process, ensuring they are thoroughly prepared to streamline and facilitate the national ID registration for a swift and effortless experience for all.

“This training is all about making CID officers good at handling the registration process. We want to make sure they are well-prepared and know exactly what to do so that registering for a national ID is easy and quick for everyone,” she said.

Last week, the Ministry of Finance released sh192b to kickstart the National Identification renewal project.

Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, the secretary to the treasury and the ministry permanent secretary made the revelation at a news conference in Kampala where he announced over shillings 4 trillion released for the third quarter of 2023/2024 financial year.

Flanked by the ministry’s top echelon, Ggoobi said sh144b has been released to purchase tablets that will be used in the National Population Census.

NIRA had failed to commence mass enrolment of 17.2 million persons due to funding gaps, Kisembo, told Parliament.

The Authority also has pending mass renewal of national identification cards targeting 15.8 million persons, given that cards will expire in August 2024.

Kisembo brought the concerns before the attention of legislators on the Committee of Defence and Internal Affairs, in a meeting held on Wednesday, 25 October 2023.

She added that with the absence of a budget approved in 2022 worth shillings 666.85 billion to install the National Security Information System (NSIS), the mass enrolment remains pending.

“The project was expected to start in June 2023 as a pilot and full roll-out in August 2023, with procurements and recruitment contracts for registration assistants. However, this has not been done due to the absence of funds or a letter of commitment of funds,” Kisembo said.

In August 2023, the Electoral Commission released the electoral road map that requires NIRA to submit the register of citizens to enable the Commission to compile, maintain, revise, and update the voters register by September 2024.

The Committee Chairperson, Wilson Kajwengye, tasked NIRA to explain whether it was prepared to hand over a credible data source to the Electoral Commission in preparation for the 2026 general elections.

“You have said you were supposed to have rolled out two months ago but have not yet done so. Are you telling us that you are not ready for mass enrolment ahead of the elections?” Kajwenje asked.

Kisembo responded that NIRA was only delayed but expressed optimism about the progress of the project.

“There are some aspects of the project like capacity building that have started. As soon as funding is provided, key aspects like procurement of hardware and integration will begin,” she noted.

She added that NIRA engaged the Ministry of Finance on funding the project, who stated that they are considering seeking the authority of the cabinet to approve supplementary funding of Shs370 billion under domestic borrowing.

Every citizen of Uganda will be required in 2024 to obtain a new national identity card complete with new features.

The new features according to the internal affairs minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, include artificial intelligence which means computer-aided identification of persons as well as DNA.

The process of obtaining the new ID will be free of charge. Also, the National Identification Number (NIN) for those who previously obtained a national ID will remain the same.

Otafiire however said they will introduce express services for those who do not want to go through the trouble of waiting too long.

These, he explained, will be at liberty to apply for a new national ID online at a fee of shillings 50,000.