The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) has admitted there are some individuals acting as brokers who extort money from members of the public seeking national Identity cards.
Gilbert Kadilo, the NIRA spokesperson Gilbert Kadilo disclosed this yesterday on Monday April 26 while addressing members of the press during a joint security brief held at police headquarters in Naguru Kampala.
Kadilo disclosed that the authority has with the help of security organs so far made arrests to over 10 suspects on allegations of extorting money from members of the public promising to help them obtain NI cards on time.
He added that most of the suspects are former NIRA employees or those who participated in the registration exercise for national IDs done in 2015.
Kadilo told journalists that whereas the process of applying for national IDs is a straight one, it requires one to present a letter from their area LC1 chairman and the DISO must append signature.
He noted that it is at this stage that brokers get involved in the process to extort money from members of the public but denied that these are not NIRA staff.
The authority further reported having experienced cases of forgery including letters and stamps from LC1 chairmen and DISOs, some of the security requirements during the application process.
According to NIRA these cases are common in the five divisions of Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts of greater Kampala Metropolitan area.
However, the authority mouthpiece added that they have started engaging the Ministry of Local Government and the Internal Security Organisation head to see how to sort out the mess.
