Uganda’s mass National Identification Card registration and renewal exercise, intended to streamline citizens’ data and improve service delivery, is now being overshadowed by widespread reports of bribery, technical failures, and logistical breakdowns across the country.
Launched last month by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the nationwide campaign was billed as a critical update for millions of Ugandans. However, on the ground, the exercise is spiraling into confusion, with mounting public frustration and claims of corruption painting a grim picture.
In Masaka City, reports of corruption are rampant. Residents at multiple registration centres say that enrollment officers are demanding bribes in exchange for faster service. Sarah Nakayiza, a resident of Market Cell in Nyendo Ward, recounted how desperation is forcing people to pay at least 5,000 shillings just to avoid the endless queues.
“Those who don’t pay are made to wait endlessly or are told to return another day,” Nakayiza said. “Some even give up and leave unregistered. It’s clear that the system is intentionally frustrating us.”
Masaka Resident City Commissioner Ahamada Washaki confirmed receiving complaints and said his office is investigating the matter.
In Wakiso District’s Nansana Municipality, similar allegations have emerged. At registration points like the Nansana Division Headquarters and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, individuals wearing yellow T-shirts are allegedly acting as brokers, collecting money on behalf of officials.
“You just give that man 5,000 shillings, and he ensures you get priority, even if you came late,” said Arnold Mukisa, a resident. Another, Alice Nalango, was shocked to see these exchanges occurring in full view of local authorities. “How can such blatant corruption happen right in front of the police?” she asked.
In many places, the challenges go beyond corruption. Poor infrastructure, understaffing, and unreliable equipment have made the process exhausting and inefficient.
In Luwero Town Council, residents are spending hours in queues with no assurance of being served. Kavule Parish Councillor Emmanuel Nsubuga explained that the machines used for enrollment are slow and frequently stall. “When the system crashes, everything stops. Sometimes, the officers even close and leave,” he said.
In one instance, more than 150 people were left stranded at the Luwero Sub-County Offices when the enrollment team left for a council session and never returned. According to LC3 Chairperson Richard Ssimbwa, the officers had assured the public of resuming the next day — but failed to show up.
Technical failures have brought the process to a standstill in other parts of the country. In Kapchorwa Municipality, registration operations were paralyzed for two days due to a power outage. A backup generator provided no relief.
“The generator is supposed to be our fallback, but it doesn’t work,” said Diana Emma Chemutai, one of the registration officers. “We were left idle with nothing to do.”
In Moroto District, head of operations Susan Talep pointed to poor internet connectivity and insufficient infrastructure as the biggest obstacles. “Sometimes we’re working in the middle of nowhere, chasing after residents in cattle kraals with no shade, no chairs, and barely any network to connect to the central server,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Arua City’s Ayivu Division, delays are being blamed on residents who lost their ID cards and cannot recall their National Identification Numbers (NINs). Eunice Etoru, who is leading the exercise in Onduparaka, said staff spend extra time trying to retrieve this data — a task made harder by the limited technical support on the ground.
With the exercise expected to continue over the coming weeks, pressure is mounting on NIRA to resolve the growing list of challenges. Local leaders and residents alike are calling for more staff, better equipment, and tighter oversight to curb corruption.
“There’s a real risk that many people will be excluded from the system if these issues aren’t addressed,” warned Councillor Nsubuga. “It’s not just about ID cards — it’s about access to services, voting rights, and national inclusion.”
The national registration exercise, intended to be a gateway to improved governance and social services, is fast becoming a test of public trust in institutions. For many Ugandans, that trust is hanging by a thread.
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