Uganda National IDs: Officials battle ‘aliens’ over registration

Non-Ugandans are turning up to register in the ongoing National Identity Card enrollment exercise in Bunyoro sub-region, security officials have said.

Hoima RDC Godfrey Nyakahuma has reported to the Internal Affairs minister, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, that several aliens have turned up for registration and when blocked, they threaten violence.

He said the tension over non Ugandans seeking to register had prompted security agencies to beef up security deployments in communities at the Uganda-DR Congo boarder when some Congolese nationals reportedly turn up for the exercise.

Gen Nyakairima, who chaired an evaluation progress meeting for the National ID enrolment which was held at Kijungu Hill Hotel on Monday, said Hoima District had underperformed in the enrolment exercise compared to other districts in Bunyoro region.

The RDC reported that out of the 275,800 targeted people for enrolment, the district had registered 13,278 people as of July 7, representing a 41 per cent enrolment out of the targeted population.

Buliisa District officials reported that 27,000 people have already registered out of the targeted 39,800 people, representing a 68 per cent coverage. However, the Buliisa District chairman, Mr Fred Lukumu, said there are several aliens in Biiso, Kihungya and Butyaba sub-counties whom they have denied registration.

Read further here – including discussion in comments from Ugandans on whether those born and brought up in Uganda should be regarded as Ugandan or not.