The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has clarified that the free birth certificate recently issued to the newborn daughter of State Minister for Minerals Development Phiona Nyamutoro and musician Eddy Kenzo was granted under an existing government programme available to all Ugandan parents.
The clarification follows public debate on social media after photographs emerged showing the couple registering their three-week-old baby girl at a NIRA centre. Some social media users questioned whether the child had received special treatment because of her parents’ public profiles.
However, NIRA dismissed the claims, emphasizing that birth registration and certification are provided free of charge for all children below six months of age under a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting early registration.
Speaking during a presser at Naguru police headquarters, NIRA Registrar Clare Ollama said the programme is open to every Ugandan parent and is not reserved for celebrities, politicians, or government officials.
She explained that any child registered within the first six months after birth qualifies for a free birth certificate, provided the necessary requirements are met.
“The free birth certificate issued to the child of Phiona Nyamutoro and Eddy Kenzo was processed under the same policy that applies to all Ugandan children registered within the stipulated period,” Ollama said.
NIRA noted that the initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen Uganda’s civil registration and national identity management systems.
The authority also reminded the public that first-time registration for a National Identification Number (NIN) remains free for all Ugandans.
According to NIRA, early birth registration helps establish a child’s legal identity from birth and simplifies access to essential services such as education, healthcare, passports, and national identity cards later in life.
Officials warned that delayed registration can create administrative challenges and increase the risk of inaccurate personal records.
Under the current policy, registration after nine months attracts a fee of Shs10,000, while individuals seeking birth registration after the age of 17 are required to pay Shs50,000.
Ollama further revealed that NIRA operates a community outreach programme to support parents in remote areas. She said parents who organize groups of at least 10 children below nine months of age can request NIRA officials to visit their location and process registrations on-site anywhere in the country.
