By Ben Musanje
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has taken its services directly to the people at the 4th Public Finance Management Conference organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) at Speke Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe.
Peter Okwalinga, NIRA’s Communications Officer, highlighted that the authority is committed to reaching citizens wherever they gather. “We follow people wherever they are. Every opportunity that we get, we extend our services,” Okwalinga said.
The authority provided a comprehensive range of services at the conference, including ID renewal, replacement, first-time registrations, and issuance of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Notably, individuals who had registered for National IDs last year were able to collect their cards on-site. For parents, NIRA offered instant registration of children for National Identification Numbers (NINs), which are available the following day.
Okwalinga emphasized the importance of NIRA’s role in connecting government agencies. “This conference brings together MDAs, ministries, and government agencies. Institutions like NSSF, Bank of Uganda, URA, and National Planning Authority all rely on a national identifier,” he said. The engagement allows NIRA to listen to feedback from agencies, understand challenges, and strengthen collaboration.
While last year’s conference saw high demand for ID renewals, this year attendees focused on collecting their already issued cards. Okwalinga acknowledged minor delays due to late submission of participant details by the conference organizers but assured that future events would allow for smoother distribution. “So long as we have the details, people don’t need to travel to villages to collect their cards. We can deliver them anywhere, from Barara to Wakiso or Mukono,” he explained.
The NIRA official also urged citizens to use the upcoming holiday season to register children for NINs and to collect their new national IDs. “The new card is fully functional, just like the previous one. It carries your name, NIN, and new features like your iris. You can use it for SIM registration, accessing NSSF, processing passports, and driving permits,” Okwalinga said.
NIRA maintains an open office for client relations to address complaints and feedback. The authority also highlighted that while new IDs work for SIM registration, citizens must use official telecom service outlets to complete the process successfully.
Okwalinga encouraged the public not to hesitate in picking up their cards, reassuring that all services provided are fully functional. “Whenever you receive a message, give it a day, and you can pick up your card the following day. The ID is ready to use,” he said, emphasizing that proactive engagement helps NIRA serve the public more efficiently.
The ICPAU conference has become an annual opportunity for NIRA to demonstrate its commitment to accessibility, efficiency, and the integration of national identification systems into Uganda’s public service framework. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
