Security has arrested and detained three former National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) contract staff for extorting money from the members of the public in Bundibugyo to register and issue them National Identity Cards.

Preliminary information indicates that the arrest was conducted on May 5th, 2026, at Busunga town council in Bundibugyo district and the suspects were arrested and detained at a police station in Bundibugyo.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Moses Kwebiya, Everest Ndyanabo, and Mercy Sandra, all former contact staff whose contracts with NIRA expired.

According to the local leaders, the suspects have been conniving with the Bundibugyo District Registrar, identified as Herbert Katende, to extort money from the locals.

“These people worked with NIRA before, but their contracts expired. However, the district registrar engages them illegally to extort money for him,” local authorities revealed.

Additionally, the suspects pinned the District Information Technology Officer (DITO), whom they say authorized them to pick registration gadgets from NIRA offices to conduct the exercise.

The suspects further revealed that they have been charging each member of the public between UGX 2,000 AND UGX 5,000 at registration centers, including Nyawuka, Bubukwanga, Buganikire, and Ntandi town councils.

The arrests are part of a wider government crackdown on corruption within NIRA during the national ID renewal and registration process, which is free. Bundibugyo is not an isolated case; similar arrests of NIRA staff extorting money have been reported across Uganda, including in Kassanda in 2025, Ibanda, and Rubanda districts, among other areas.