Local council officials in Arua City are on the spot for allegedly recommending non-Ugandans to the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) to obtain national identity cards (IDs).
City officials say that non-citizens, especially Congolese and South Sudanese nationals, often pay LCs between 50,000 and 200,000 shillings as a bribe in exchange for letters of recommendation that help them get national IDs.
Twaib Achile, the Arua Deputy Resident City Commissioner in charge of the central division, says that his office has received a number of complaints over the numerous non-Ugandans in possession of the National IDs. He has cautioned the LCs to desist from the habit and exercise some patriotism.
Ivan Sukuru, the LC I Chairperson of the Upper Bibia cell in Arua central division, told Uganda Radio Network URN that the vice is widespread, noting that most of his colleagues are easily enticed due to their meager emoluments.He told NIRA to come up with a plan for getting back a lot of national IDs that were in the hands of people who were not from Uganda.
Yasin Asega, the LC Although the chairperson of the Old Back Cell in Arua City has not issued a recommendation to non-citizens to process their National Identity Card, he believes that NIRA should require prospective citizens to first present a recommendation letter from LC before issuing them with an enrolment form.
During a recent dialogue in Arua City to increase demand for national IDs, the personal assistant to the executive director of NIRA, John Toa, asked the LCs and DISOs who are in charge of verifying the information of applicants in their localities to do their due diligence and do some soul-searching.
“It is only Ugandans who don’t like their country because these non-Ugandans get the national IDs.” “You try to go to Kenya and see if you can succeed in getting their national ID; let our LCs and DISOs do the right job,” he noted.
Non-citizens with national IDs is a common problem in West Nile, especially in the refugee-hosting districts and districts along international borders like Arua, Maracha, Koboko, and Zombo, where many non-citizens have the national IDs of Uganda.
