Police in Kassanda District have arrested four officials from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) over allegations of extorting money from residents during the ongoing mass registration exercise.
The suspects were detained at Bukuya Police Station on Wednesday, June 26, following a directive by the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kassanda, Mike Ssegawa.
The arrests came shortly after a security meeting between NIRA officials and local leaders, during which the extortion claims were tabled.
Residents from Kyato Mbirizi Sub-County and Nabondo in Bukuya Town Council accused the officials of demanding money in exchange for registration services.
The majority of the complaints originated from Kalata Ward, where the officials reportedly solicited bribes from applicants seeking to acquire or update national identification cards.
Deputy RDC Ssegawa, accompanied by District Internal Security Officer Jude Kyomulungi, Deputy DISO Musa Bwanika, Bukuya area MP Dr. Bukenya Kyabikoola, and LC3 chairpersons from Bukuya Town Council, Kijuna, and Bukuya Sub-County, condemned the actions of the suspects.
“This kind of misconduct will not be tolerated. It undermines government programs and erodes public trust in service delivery,” Ssegawa said.
He directed the Officer-in-Charge at Bukuya Police Station to take statements from both the suspects and their alleged victims to facilitate investigations.
He also instructed that the accused be charged in court to face the law over extortion-related offenses.
The arrests have sparked public debate in the area, with many residents welcoming the swift intervention by the local authorities.
The mass registration exercise is aimed at updating national ID records, which are crucial for accessing government services and improving national security.
However, cases of corruption threaten to frustrate the exercise and deny citizens their constitutional rights.
Area MP Dr. Kyabikoola called for tighter supervision of NIRA operations to prevent future incidents of misconduct.
The suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities have pledged to ensure that justice is served and to restore public confidence in the registration exercise.
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