NIRA Speaks Out On Birth Certificates Controversy

Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has revealed that birth certificates issued by the authority are authentic.

NIRA was responding to local reports quoting the same authority saying that certificates in question are invalid. NTV quoted the Director Registrations and Operations, Brigadier Stephen Kwiringira.

“Birth certificates issued by NIRA following the enactment of Registration of Persons Act 2019 (ROPA) are valid. Birth Certificates issued by Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) are valid legal documents as they were issued under the existing law at the time,” reads in part a statement by NIRA.

NIRA has embarked on the compulsory registration of child births and death in Greater Luweero districts. This was after the authority completed a three day workshop for Public Officials from Luweero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola who will be  helping with this registration.

“However, all short birth certificates issued by hospitals, Sub counties and divisions/town councils are not birth certificates but rather birth notification records one can use to process birth certifucates from NIRA,” the statement adds.