The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has issued a strong warning against bribery during the ongoing mass National ID renewal and registration exercise, urging citizens to report any officials demanding money for services that are largely free of charge.

Speaking during a monitoring tour in the Bunyoro sub-region on June 30, NIRA Board Chairperson Joseph Biribonwa said the authority will not tolerate extortion by its staff or local agents.

During a meeting in Kiryandongo district, he revealed that some individuals were demanding money from applicants just to hand them registration forms needed to proceed to the next stage.”

“These services are free, except for special cases like change of names, which attract official fees. Anyone caught demanding bribes will be arrested and prosecuted,” Biribonwa stated.

His remarks come amid growing complaints from residents in Kiryandongo and Masindi districts, where some officials are reportedly charging citizens to access registration forms or to fast-track the process.

Jonathan Ateirweho, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Kiryandongo, confirmed the arrest of one individual linked to extortion.

“Such cases are common in areas like Bweyale, but we are watching closely. Citizens must not be exploited while seeking essential services,” Ateirweho emphasized.

NIRA is currently undertaking a nationwide exercise to renew 15 million expired IDs and register 17 million new applicants. So far, 4 million renewals and 70,000 new registrations have been completed.

However, the exercise has not been without challenges. Some sub-counties have only one registration kit, resulting in long queues and overcrowding. Biribonwa noted that machines are now being rotated across parishes to improve access.

’’People from entire sub-counties converge at one parish, which is overwhelming. We are rotating machines and notifying communities in advance,” he said.

Biribonwa reminded citizens that a valid national ID is essential for accessing services such as banking, tax registration, education, and land transactions.

He urged Ugandans to use the remaining months of the campaign to renew or apply for their IDs, emphasizing that the documents will be required for voter registration in the 2026 general elections.

This advisory is part of a broader public sensitization campaign to ensure Ugandans know their rights and are not taken advantage of. He also revealed that NIRA board members have been deployed countrywide to assess local challenges, engage communities in familiar languages, and recommend practical improvements based on local realities.

“It is only by working together that we can protect public trust and ensure no Ugandan is left behind,” Biribonwa said.

As the exercise continues, citizens are encouraged by NIRA to report any bribery cases to local authorities or the police.