The Performance of National Identification and Registration Authority in Uganda: 2016-2017

Abstract

Biometric national identity card systems are gradually becoming attractive within Africa and considered as a vital social element. It is presumed that offering national identity cards to all the citizenry will help African governments to fight numerous societal malevolence such as extremism, unlawful immigration, deceitful activities, and quicken community service delivery. However, the introduction of national identity card has been a matter of academic and policy debate. This paper assessed the service delivery performance of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) a mixed method approach was used and results indicated delays in new Identity Card (ID) application, replacement and change of ID particulars in in both 2016 and 2017 in Uganda. It was suggested that there is need for service level agreement, translation of application forms in different languages, strategy to deal with priorities, increase band width for data connectivity in upcountry offices and scrap the replacement fees.