The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) that this week received two new mobile National ID registration trucks that are to be used to boost its registration capacity. The two vehicles are fully equipped with tools to provide on spot registration services and also conduct community mobilization drives.
According to NIRA, the main objective of procuring the equipment is to enhance mobility and service reach in support of efforts by NIRA to scale up birth and death registration in the country. In her handover comments the PS Ministry of Health Hon Atwine Diana expressed her joy at the delivery of the vehicles and observed that they would go a long way in improving maternal and child health services and National ID registration.
Last year, NIRA embarked on resuming the Infants National ID registration exercise. Infants as young as Day 1 can now get a National ID number which is granted to them at the age of 16. Sweeping in new features and human identification mechanisms. NIRA currently registers children from the age of 0-15.
Uganda launched the national ID registration exercise way back in 2014 for persons aged 16 years and above. Although many people opposed the whole idea of having a national ID card linking it to political beliefs. To date, owning a SIMcard in Uganda or even registering for any pro service requires you to have a national ID number.
The trucks are intended to be used as mobile platforms to take services closer to communities through outreaches and routine registration activities. NIRA has not specified the areas where they vehicles will be used, but has said that they will be targeting populations in under-served districts or regions especially those with large and longer distances between communities and NIRA service points. It includes densely populated areas that may not be ably covered under the routine district National ID registration centers.
