Overview:
Baryomunsi, who previously served as the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, acknowledged that NIRA has not yet harmonised the newly issued national IDs, but committed that it is work in progress.
The Minister for Health, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi says that the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is carrying out a synchronisation process with Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to authenticate the new national identification cards.
Baryomunsi, who previously served as the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, acknowledged that NIRA has not yet harmonised the newly issued national IDs, but committed that it is work in progress.
His response followed a matter of national importance raised by Hon. Paul Mwiru (NUP, Jinja South Division East) during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. Mwiru expressed concern over failure to use his national ID for transactions.
“When the bank froze my account for an update, I presented my newly acquired national ID and they told me it does not work and that I have to go to NIRA to get a letter to verify it. I found several other people in the bank who also had to verify their IDs,” Mwiru said.
He questioned government’s proposal to change tax collection registration from tax identification numbers (TINs) to national identity numbers (NINs) noting that the need to verify newly issued IDs could put a strain on the proposal.
While tabling the proposal before Parliament, State Minister for Finance (Planning), Hon. Amos Lugoloobi said adopting national identification numbers as primary tax identification numbers for individuals will expand Uganda’s tax base, eliminate duplicate registrations and improve tax administration.
The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa directed the Committee on ICT and National Guidance to ensure that the ministry carries out the authentication effectively.
In another development, the Deputy Speaker also directed the committee expeditiously handle the matter of unlicensed internet service providers and report within a week.
On 13 October 2026, the Uganda Communications Commission ordered all unlicensed public Wi-Fi operators to switch-off and dismantle their equipment within a week warning that seizure and destruction of routers would follow.
Tayebwa said he has received petitions from dealers in mobile hot-spots on the UCC directive and urged the committee to follow-up their concerns.
“The dealers have said there are continued arrests and harassment but we have already referred the matter to the committee,” Tayebwa said.
The Chairperson of the Committee on ICT and National Guidance Committee, Hon. Andrew Ojok said hearings on the matter will commence on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.