The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) took its identification services directly to participants attending the 4th Public Finance Management Conference organised by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) at Speke Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe.The move was part of NIRA’s efforts to bring its services closer to citizens and institutions while also responding to growing demand for national identification services.NIRA Communications Officer Peter Okwalinga said the authority follows people wherever they gather in order to make identification services more accessible.At the conference, participants were able to access several services, including national ID renewal, replacement of lost cards and first-time registration.
NIRA also provided services related to birth, death and marriage certificates.Citizens who had registered for national identity cards during the previous year were also able to collect their completed cards at the event.Okwalinga said the outreach was important because the conference brought together ministries, departments and agencies that depend heavily on the national identification system.He noted that institutions such as the National Social Security Fund, Bank of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority and National Planning Authority rely on national identification information in their operations.The NIRA official said the engagement also gave the authority an opportunity to listen to concerns from institutions and citizens and understand some of the challenges they face when accessing identification services.Another service highlighted during the conference was registration of children.According to NIRA, parents could register their children and receive a National Identification Number through the process, with the NIN expected to become available shortly after registration.
Okwalinga said the demand for NIRA services had changed compared with the previous year.He explained that while many people previously focused on renewing their existing national IDs, the current demand was increasingly centred on collecting cards that had already been produced.NIRA also encouraged people who had completed the registration process to check with the authority and collect their cards instead of waiting indefinitely.The authority said some minor delays experienced during the conference were caused by late submission of participant details.Okwalinga explained that where NIRA has the necessary information, cards can be delivered or made available at convenient locations.He also encouraged Ugandans to use the holiday period to register children who had not yet been captured in the national identification system and collect cards that were already ready.NIRA explained that the national identity card contains important information, including the holder’s name, National Identification Number and biometric details.
The national identification system is used in several areas, including SIM card registration, NSSF services, passport applications and driving permit-related processes.Okwalinga also reminded citizens that complaints and concerns can be directed to NIRA’s client relations office.He cautioned the public to use official telecommunications outlets when carrying out SIM registration and avoid relying on unofficial agents.NIRA says its outreach programmes are intended to make identification services easier to access while encouraging Ugandans to complete the processes required to obtain and collect their national identity documents.
