Kikuube residents accuse NIRA officers of extorting money for National IDs

Residents of Kyangwali and Katikara parishes in Kyangwali Sub-county, Kikuube District, have accused National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) registration officers of extorting money from them before issuing National Identity Cards.

The residents allege that officers deployed to distribute the national IDs have been demanding between Shs5,000 and Shs30,000 from applicants before handing over the cards, despite the service being offered free of charge by government.

Some residents say they have failed to collect their national IDs because they cannot afford the money allegedly being demanded by the officers.

Jane Kyakuhaire and Harriet Kunihira, both residents of Katikara Village in Kyangwali Sub-county, said they were surprised when they were asked to pay Shs5,000 each before receiving their national IDs.

“We were told to pay Shs5,000 before taking our IDs. We know that national IDs are supposed to be issued free of charge by government,” Kyakuhaire said.

The two women said the payments are demanded from all applicants regardless of age, including elderly persons seeking to collect their identification documents.

The complaints were raised on Wednesday evening during campaign meetings held in Kyangwali and Katikara parishes attended by the NRM Electoral Commission

Commissioner, Jane Alisemera Babiiha, who is in the district campaigning for NRM Kikuube District LCV flag bearer Paddy Kisembo ahead of the June 18 elections.

Residents used the campaign meetings to express their frustration, saying the alleged extortion has prevented some eligible voters from accessing national identification documents, which are required during the voting process.

The outgoing Kikuube District Vice Chairperson, Vincent Opio, acknowledged receiving numerous complaints regarding the alleged extortion.

Opio said several officers implicated in the practice have already been arrested, but noted that more needs to be done to eliminate the vice.

“We have been receiving many reports about the issue and some officers have been arrested. The matter requires serious attention from all stakeholders in the district,” he said.

Addressing residents, Babiiha urged NIRA leadership to take decisive action against officers involved in the alleged extortion.

She warned that the practice could disenfranchise some voters who may fail to obtain national IDs because they cannot afford the money being demanded.

“This issue should be handled urgently because some NRM supporters and other voters may fail to get their IDs, yet the document is important during the electoral process,” Babiiha said.

However, the Kikuube District NIRA Registration Officer, Huzaifa Alinaitwe, denied that NIRA charges money for issuing national identity cards.

Alinaitwe maintained that issuance of national IDs is entirely free and said no applicant is required to pay any money to receive the document.

“The issuance of National Identity Cards is completely free of charge. Those who give money do so willingly, and it is not a requirement for anyone to pay before receiving their card,” he said.

The allegations come as political campaigns intensify ahead of the June 18 Kikuube District LCV election.

The race has attracted two candidates: NRM’s Paddy Kisembo and National Unity Platform’s Fenekansi Timanyire.

Residents are now calling for investigations into the allegations to ensure that all eligible citizens receive their national IDs without being asked to pay for a government service that is officially free.