By Leonard Kamugisha Akida
KAMPALA
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has called on parents across the country to prioritise the registration of their children, warning that failure to do so could lead to major legal and social complications in the future.
Speaking during a joint security press conference held at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday morning, Claire Ollama, the NIRA Registration Officer for Buikwe District, underscored the urgency of child registration, particularly in securing inheritance rights in case of death of parents, urging citizens not to delay the process.
“If you don’t register your child today, you risk exposing them to complicated legal processes in the future, including costly DNA tests just to prove identity,” said Ollama. “Take your time and register your children to ease their access to access to key services like healthcare, education, scholarships, and even bank accounts.”
Ollama stressed that a birth certificate is now a prerequisite for numerous essential services, including medical insurance and public university admissions, all of which require the child to have a registered National Identification Number (NIN).
“Now that we are at your Parish take time the time to register your child for a National ID and ease their access to the different services in Uganda,” she added.
She also addressed growing public concern regarding reports that some NIRA officials were demanding additional documents such as baptism cards, immunisation records, or birth notifications for registration. Ollama clarified that such documents are not mandatory.
“A parent’s knowledge of their child’s details—particularly their name—is sufficient,” she affirmed. “This country’s citizenship is by descent. If you know the information and are willing to sign a declaration affirming its accuracy, you will not be turned away.”
Ollama encouraged all citizens to take initiative and not “sleep on the job,” adding that registering one’s children is key to ending family disputes in future generations by providing a clear family lineage.
“Let us empower our children with the key to access every opportunity in this country. Let us register them while it’s still easy,” she urged.
Additionally, Ollama reassured the public about the safety and confidentiality of personal data collected during the registration process, emphasising that NIRA upholds strict data protection standards and uses the information solely for intended purposes. Her remarks come amid growing concerns over the number of questions posed by NIRA officials during registration and ID renewal.
“We treat your information critically, in a manner that benefits both you and the authority,” Ollama stressed.
NIRA is currently carrying out Mass registration and renewal of national IDs across the country. The authority continues to decentralise operations, working within parishes and extending office hours to accommodate all citizens.
