NIRA warns public against paying for free registration and ID services

8 October 2026, 1:49 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has warned residents in Pader against paying money for services that are provided free of charge, following concerns that some people seeking national identification services may be asked to pay.

Denis Niwamanya, the NIRA District Registration Officer for Pader, said registration of children and adults and the issuance of national identity cards are free services.

He was speaking on Radio Luo’s Ruu Pa Piny programme on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

Niwamanya said residents should not pay NIRA staff for registration or collection of their national identity cards, urging them to report anyone demanding money for the services.

He said police, the Resident District Commissioner and the LC5 are aware that the services are free and should help address cases where residents are asked to pay.

Niwamanya urged residents to help NIRA identify staff who demand money, saying the authority can only take action when such cases are reported.

He explained that some NIRA services, however, attract fees, including replacement of a lost national identity card and changes to personal particulars.

According to Niwamanya, replacement of a lost national ID costs Shs50,000, while a name change costs Shs200,000.

He said corrections are free where an error was made by NIRA, because the authority can verify such mistakes through its systems.

However, where an individual wants to change a name by choice, Niwamanya said the applicant must follow the required legal process, including obtaining the necessary documentation before the change can be processed.

He cited the case of Sam from Pajule Town Council, who said his son had used two names while studying from Primary One to Primary Six before acquiring a third name after changing schools.

Sam said he was referred to the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) in Gulu, where he paid Shs200,000 for the name change, but later discovered that the additional name had not appeared on his son’s national identity card.

Niwamanya advised Sam to return to the NIRA office in Pader so that the matter could be verified and the necessary steps taken.

He explained that name changes require the applicant to follow the required procedure before returning to NIRA to update the information and complete the identification process.

Niwamanya also reminded residents that the NIRA office is a public institution and should be freely accessible to people seeking services.

He urged residents who encounter difficulties or suspect that an officer is demanding money for a free service to report the matter through local leaders, police or other responsible authorities.

He said residents should not remain silent when asked to pay for services that are supposed to be free, stressing that reporting such cases would help NIRA identify and deal with the problem.