The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is facing challenges in ensuring all Ugandans register births and deaths, despite a population of over 45 million.
In 2024, NIRA reported only 27 million people in its system, leaving about 18 million unregistered, according to Stephen Robert Kasumba, NIRA’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager.
“Out of Uganda’s 45 million people, we have only registered 27 million. Many are still not in our system,” Kasumba said.
The Births and Deaths Registration Act requires everyone to register births and deaths within a specific time. Failure to do so can lead to a fine of up to six currency points or three months in prison.
Additionally, tampering with national identification cards, keeping someone else’s ID, or holding multiple IDs can result in a fine of up to 48 currency points or three years in prison.
Many births and deaths, especially those occurring outside hospitals and health centers, go unregistered. This makes it hard for NIRA to collect accurate data needed for national planning and better service delivery. Some Ugandans are unaware of the law and its penalties, showing NIRA has more work to do in educating the public about the importance of registration.
Other challenges include high illiteracy levels, despite government efforts to provide free primary and secondary education. Poor transport networks in remote areas also make it difficult for people to access registration services.
Penalizing offenders could help, but agencies like NIRA, Uganda Planning Authority, and Uganda Bureau of Statistics struggle to enforce the law. When they succeed, the police and judiciary are ready to take action.
