As a measure to cut on government spending on national identity cards with expiry dates, an arrangement to introduce open identity cards is underway, and the programme is expected to become operational after the planned communal registration of all Ugandans.
According to the State Minister for Internal Affairs, David Muhoozi, use of the existing identity cards will end in ten years after the said communal registration, adding that use of technology for this system is already in the country and training of personnel to handle this technology is also ongoing.
“Ugandans have expressed disgust at the continued use of identity cards requiring thumb print certification, and we thought of introducing the online identification,” Muhoozi who was commenting on the present national identity cards which expired last year told parliamentarians.
He said the components acquisition of the appropriate technology by the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) to boost other requirements to be reflected on the identity cards including holders’ eyelashes, after realising that thumb print marks sometimes fail to be effective.
Muhoozi was put to task to clarify when the national general registration was to begin because, parliamentarians argued, many Ugandans are confronted with hardships as they struggle to get bank loans and to travel in East African member countries.
The MPs complained that there’s no reason for more delays in this exercise because sh192bn for the purpose has already been okayed by parliament.
They also suggested that at the right time, the registration exercise should be extended down to parishes, and the sh40,000 fine for late registration be waived because, they added, in many instances it is the government side responsible for the delays.
Registration for acquisition of new national identity cards had been slated to begin last August but was extended for a year, and the minister has given assurances that the new schedule is to be strictly followed.