MPs Demand Answers From NIRA Over Dysfunctional QR Codes on New National IDs

What the report says

Ugandan lawmakers have asked the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to explain why QR codes on the country’s new national ID cards are still not functioning properly. According to Nile Post, the issue was raised in Parliament on Thursday by Aswa County MP Patrick Okello Onguti, who said banks and other service providers were rejecting the cards because the codes could not be scanned for verification.

Onguti told MPs that NIRA had previously acknowledged the integration problem and said it would be fixed by March 31 after a February 9, 2026 assurance. He said the continued failure is creating practical difficulties for citizens trying to access services that depend on digital ID checks. Some affected people, he said, are being asked to pay for NIRA letters to prove their identity, which adds cost for holders of valid national IDs.

Other MPs reportedly backed the concern, warning that the malfunction could undermine the intended benefits of the new-generation IDs, which were introduced with digital verification features and stronger security. The Minister of Internal Affairs has been directed to return to Parliament next week with a detailed explanation of the delay, the number of people affected, and steps being taken to fully integrate the QR system.