ID project starts amid irregularities

The mass registration of citizens for issuance of national identity cards kicked off yesterday amid several irregularities and complaints from the public.

Missing materials, late arrival of gadgets, failure to meet requirements and residents claiming being unaware of the exercise, characterised the programme for which government has been drumming up support for several years.

In Kampala, most people went about their normal work and errands as if the exercise was not going on.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, visited Bulange, the seat of Buganda kingdom and held a lengthy closed meeting with officials led by the Katikkiro, Charles Peter Mayiga.

When Gen Aronda emerged, he said they had decided to deal with political, cultural, religious, business and the media groups to mobilise for the programme.

Mr Mayiga said the exercise was important. “I hope it will reduce the bureaucracy involved in getting services like passports.”

“As Buganda Kingdom, we don’t have anything against the project and we encourage people to turn up and participate.”

At Lubaga Division headquarters, by 10.45 am, a vehicle with the Electoral Commission registered number plates was just delivering the registration equipment. Mr Abel Assimwe Bimbona, the division town clerk, said that they had got all the 13 kits for the parishes in the division.

At the Sudanese International Friendship School Kampala where the exercise of Aggrey Zone, Ndeeba was expected to take place, no staff was present.

Ms Teddy Nabisenke, the area chairperson, said they had a meeting with the officials handling the project on how to share the project resources after it emerged that Parishes in Kampala were too big to be served with one registration kit.

At the Old Gombolola Kakeeka Village, by midday, only 30 people had registered. Mr Fred Mwesigwa the supervisor said that the turn up was slow because many people were not aware of the exercise and others did not have the LC1 letters.

Reported by Stephen Kafeero Mudanga Kolyanga, Stephen Saif, Rebecca Kabuya, Denis Mukungu Edison Amanyire, Robert Muhereza, Felix Warom, Martin Okudi, Patrick Okaba and Scovin Iceta

COUNTRYWIDE OVERVIEW

The President launched the national ID mass registration project in Kampala on Sunday, but the exercise did not take off in some parts.

For instance in Kyenjojo, the exercise was a total flop. The district registrar, Mr Kenneth Kayabwe, said they lacked some of the required kits, thus the failure to kick off.
In Kabale, dozens of residents were turned away for presenting baptism cards instead of birth certificates.
In West Nile, the exercise registered a dismal turn up on the first day, with some people claiming they were not aware of the requirements they needed to register.

Up north in Arua, the turn up was low with some residents showing disinterest, whereas in Adjumani, turn up was fair with about 400 people picking forms by 1pm.

In Nebbi, Mr Vincent Okaba, who turned up for the exercise, said there were too many requirements for one to register, which he said is likely to negatively impact turn up in the first days.
In Moyo, especially at the National Teachers College, the exercise did not kick off because officials had not received registration kits.
In Mbale, Budaka and Bukwo the exercise was marred by late arrivals of registration kits and low turn up.
By 11:30am, officials had not received kits for the exercise, whereas in Budaka, reports indicated that although the exercise had kicked off by 10.00am, turn up was quite poor.
The exercise is meant to start by 8:00am across the country everyday.

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