Court Orders NIRA to Release ID Records in MP Nanzala Citizenship Case

A legal battle over the citizenship of Namisindwa County MP Metrine Nanzala has taken a new turn, with the High Court in Mbale ordering the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to release crucial identification records. The order is a response to an election petition filed by Apollo Masika, who alleges that Nanzala is not a citizen and therefore ineligible to hold parliamentary office.

The core of the dispute lies in conflicting claims about Nanzala’s parentage. Masika contends that Nanzala is not the biological child of Agnes Nelima and the late Michael Walyama, asserting the couple had only four children. Nanzala, however, maintains Nelima and Walyama are her parents and that they had five children, including herself.

To verify these claims, Masika sought access to NIRA records pertaining to Nelima and another individual, Evans Wekesa, arguing these documents would help clarify the family’s lineage and Nanzala’s citizenship. NIRA initially cited legal protections for personal data but noted that information could be disclosed under a court order.

Nanzala’s legal team opposed the application, raising objections including that the individuals whose records were sought were not parties to the case and that the court lacked jurisdiction. However, Justice Dr. Farouk Lubega dismissed these objections, reaffirming the High Court’s authority to access NIRA information when necessary for judicial proceedings.

The judge highlighted that a central question is the accurate number of children Nelima and Walyama had. Consequently, he granted permission for NIRA to provide certified copies of registration details for Agnes Nelima and Evans Wekesa. The final decision on costs for this application will be determined by the outcome of the main election petition. This case follows a previous instance in September 2025 where NIRA had issued Nanzala an ultimatum to prove her Ugandan citizenship amidst concerns she might hold Kenyan nationality.