New ID rollout hits QR code verification hurdle

What the report says

Uganda’s rollout of new national identity cards is facing parliamentary scrutiny after MPs said some cards are failing QR code verification, preventing holders from accessing services. The issue was raised in Parliament by Patrick Okello Onguti, the Democratic Party MP for Aswa County, during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth-Oboth, according to The Independent Uganda.

Onguti said people were being turned away by banks and telecom-related services, including SIM card registration and replacements, because the new IDs were not responding when scanned. He pressed the Government and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to explain why the system was still not working, saying the agency had earlier indicated the QR function would be fixed by a March 31 deadline. He also questioned an alleged Shs5,000 fee for a NIRA letter used to help integrate details for cards that cannot be electronically verified.

The matter is significant because Uganda’s national ID is required for many everyday transactions under the Registration of Persons Act, including banking, financial services and SIM-card registration. That means technical failures in verification can affect access to essential public and private services. Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the administration would seek a response from the Minister of Internal Affairs. The report also notes NIRA’s broader legal duty to verify identity data and maintain the national register.