The National Identification and Registrations Authority (NIRA) has started issuance of the new national Identity Cards, with Members of Parliament being amongst the special group to receive theirs, after the Authority camped at the Parliamentary building to register them in June 2025, during the mass enrolment exercise that started in May 2025.
The development was revealed by Rosemary Kisembo, Executive Director, NIRA while appearing before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) where she came carrying IDs of MPs like Kyadondo East MP Muwadda Nkunyingi, while the other MPs were asked to pick their IDs from Room 001 of the Parliamentary building.
Kashari South MP Nathan Itungo was amongst the first MPs to pick his national ID and used the platform to thank NIRA from the hustle of making long lines like other Ugandans, after having his ID delivered at his work station.
However, Muwada found fault with Itungo’s decision to thank NIRA for delivering his ID at Parliament yet many Ugandans are still enduring long lines, and those that registered earlier haven’t received their IDs, arguing that NIRA can only be thanked after all Ugandans have received their IDs.
Busongola south mp Gideon Thembo (Busongora South) accused Itungo of lying about MPs receiving their IDs.
It is at that point that the NIRA boss, Kisembo proved the two MPs wrong and informed the Committee that he had come with Muwada’s new national ID noting that as a former student of Gayaza High School, she learnt a lot of the kiganda culture, where thank you was very pivotal and went on to welcome Itungo’s gratitude.
Muwada later said that there are still issues which NIRA has to settle for Ugandans to have confident that they get their National IDs in time.
Her remarks saw Medard Sseggona, Charperson COSASE burst into laughter and wondered if Muwada was going to thank NIRA given that he had received his ID earlier than most Ugandans.
This prompted Bwamba County MP Eddie Kwizera to joke that Muwada had intimidated NIRA into having his ID delivered in the Committee.
Sseggona then asked NIRA to clarify on where the other MPs can pick their IDs to which Kisembo said that they will continue to distribute them.
