Rosemary Kisembo has on Friday May 14th officially assumed works as the new Executive Director of National Identification and Registrations Authority (NIRA).
Kisembo who has been the Head of ICT at Uganda National Roads Authority – UNRA replaces Judy Obitra Gama whose contract expired last year.
She (Kisembo) was appointed after the president wrote to Internal Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo ordering for appointment of a new ED with vast legal knowledge or information technology to handle delays in the issuance of National IDs at the authority.
“I have been informed that the contract of the current Executive Director is due to expire. Given the problems faced by NIRA especially relating to the issuance of National IDs, there is need to identify a new ED, preferably with a legal or information Technology background. I am therefore directing you to work with the Board of directors of NIRA and identify a suitable candidate. Consult me, before a final decision is reached on the matter,” the President wrote last year.
Odongo together with the NIRA board appointed Kisembo, a Software Engineer and IT specialist.
Despite the efforts to retain her position, Gama’s contract was not renewed and the board decided to appoint Brig. Steven Kwiringira to head the authority as its interim ED.
Kisembo’s entry at NIRA is likely to encounter many challenges as many Ugandans have complained of the poor services delivery by the government body mandated to register births and deaths in the country something that needs immediate change.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at NIRA headquarters in Kololo, minister Odongo urged the new ED to redeem the corporate image of NIRA.
“You are coming in at a time when we have many expectations from you and NIRA. You must have heard a lot of commentary about NIRA like corruption and public perception. We are looking forward to your stewardship to respond to these challenges,”Odong said.
He further appealed to the new NIRA Executive Director to continue with the institution’s decentralization strategy to ensure they decongest their headquarters in Kololo.
“We expect those people who registered but haven’t yet received their national IDs to get them. I am looking forward for you to get initiatives for those reluctant to pick cards to get encouraged to pick them. You need to create a situation to cause everyone to get a national ID.”
Media reports have always showed thar a small percentage of Ugandans have so far received their national IDs compared the biggest population that registered for the same cause.
Speaking shortly after assuming office, Kisembo applauded President Museveni for the appointment and pledgedcto adjust on time required for acquisition of national IDs upon application to less than three weeks.
“NIRA exists to maintain credible information about Ugandans for security and economic purposes. We will use technology to ensure the turnaround time is reduced. We need to further simplify the process of getting national IDs,”Kisembo said.
She asked government to automate all services in the country for a better services delivery.
About Kisembo.
Kisembo is a former software manager at UNRA (2011-16) and has by the time of her appointment been heading the authority’s ICT.
Between 1995 and 2016, she worked at Uganda Revenue Authority in the Corporate Services Department.
She holds Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Information Systems from Makerere University.
She is also Microsoft Certified Professional in VB 6.0 and SQR Server.
