NIRA Says 5.4M National IDs Remain Uncollected Amid Staffing Shortage

What the report says

More than 5.4 million newly printed national identity cards have not yet been collected, according to testimony given to Uganda’s Parliament by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). SoftPower News reported that NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo attributed the backlog to a staffing shortage, telling the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) that the agency has struggled to process the cards because it does not have enough personnel.

The development was raised in Kampala and centers on the challenge of getting already produced IDs to citizens. The figure points to a large administrative bottleneck in a system that is important for access to public services, elections-related identification and everyday verification needs. While the article excerpt does not provide a full timeline or additional operational details, it suggests the problem is tied to the authority’s capacity constraints rather than a lack of printed cards.

In general, identity card backlogs can affect service delivery and public confidence in national registration systems. Based on the limited excerpt, the immediate issue before lawmakers is how NIRA plans to clear the uncollected cards and whether staffing or other logistical support will be expanded. The report does not indicate any final parliamentary decision or remedy.