Registration for national IDs starts
What you need to know:
The first phase of the project, which begins countrywide today, will take four months before those registered will be issued the new IDs, according Internal Affairs ministry spokesperson Pamela Ankunda
Kampala.
After several false starts costing billions of shillings, the government picked up itself to announce the start today of mass registration of citizens for issuance of the national Identity Cards.
President Museveni yesterday appealed to Ugandans to turn up in big numbers for the exercise expected to cost Shs285 billion over two years.
The first phase of the project, which begins countrywide today, will take four months before those registered will be issued the new IDs, according Internal Affairs ministry spokesperson Pamela Ankunda.
Addressing journalists at Nakasero State Lodge in Kampala yesterday, President Museveni said proper identification will help authorities apprehend suspects faster, drive down crime, reduce fraud in the banking sector as well as electoral malpractice.
The purpose
The development would fast-track identification, say of accident victims or suspects, through quicker DNA examination.
“It is different from others issued by other government departments. They [expected national IDs] are superior because it is impossible to forge and details of individuals are carefully stored,” Museveni said.
At the village registration desk, Local Council officials together with security operatives will help certify the identity of those streaming in to register to weed out foreigners.
Biometric data of all eligible persons, which under the first phase comprises Ugandans aged 16 years and above, will be captured and stored in a computer.
The blood group, height and other physical features of those registering will be taken, the President said. About 6, 000 registration officials from different government agencies are engaged in the countrywide exercise, according to Internal Affairs ministry records.
A German firm, Muhlbauer Technology, single sourced in 2009 on President Museveni’s directives was paid more than Shs200 billion to install the equipment and make IDs for Ugandans but managed to produced only 400 cards. Some had mismatched person’s particulars.
Museveni optimistic
Yesterday, Mr Museveni sounded upbeat about the exercise which, if implemented according to plan, will fix one of the country’s glaring burdens: reliable statistics and information on its citizens.
“Bank loan defaulters will be curtailed; all banks will know everybody who has previously defaulted. Knowing who is a citizen of Uganda will be easy and cheating in elections [since it] will be impossible to engage in multiple registrations,” the President said.
The government tightened security along the borders by massing additional personnel, the Internal Affairs minister, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, said.
The ministry is the lead agency in implementation of the scheme formally called National Security Information System.
Those to register must carry identifying documents, and Ms Ankunda said these include baptism cards, passport, marriage certificates, voter’s cards and LC letters.
The registration begins today at parish or village level and the parish chief, parish internal security officer, local councils and an elder will help with conclusive determination of those eligible.
According to the Internal Affairs spokesperson, the second phase of the registration will capture persons between a few months to 16 years.
About the project
Phase one.
The first phase of the project will take four months before those registered will be issued the new IDs.
Who’s eligible?
Ugandan citizen either by descent, birth, registration or other legal ways.
Where to register.
The registration will be at parish or village level and the parish chief, parish internal security officer, local councils and an elder will help with conclusive determination of those eligible.
What you need.
Identifying documents such as baptism cards, passport, marriage certificates, voter’s cards and LC letters.
Data needed.
Biometric data of all eligible persons, which comprises Ugandans aged 16 years and above, will be captured and stored in a computer.