news 15 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Lwengo District Chair Closes NIRA Offices Amidst Extortion Allegations
Lwengo District Chairperson Abasi Kizito has ordered the closure of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) offices in the district due to persistent allegations of staff demanding bribes from residents. Applicants reportedly face demands of Shs10,000 to Shs20,000 for identity cards. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/lwengo-district-boss-closes-nira-offices-over-alleged-extortion-5634038
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) offices in Lwengo District have been shut down by District Chairperson Abasi Kizito following widespread accusations of extortion. Residents have come forward with numerous complaints, alleging that NIRA personnel are demanding bribes ranging from Shs10,000 to Shs20,000 for the issuance of national identity cards.
Mr. Kizito stated that his office received multiple reports from frustrated citizens who claimed NIRA staff were soliciting bribes and withholding essential documents from those unwilling to pay. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that hinders citizens’ access to government services, asserting that public offices should serve, not exploit, the populace.
“Every resident deserves fair treatment, accountability, and services delivered without unlawful demands,” Mr. Kizito declared. He has urged the NIRA Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo, to deploy a new officer to Lwengo to ensure a more transparent and equitable service delivery system.
Supporting the closure, Lwengo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Emmy Kateera described the alleged corruption at the local NIRA branch as having reached “intolerable levels.” Mr. Kateera mentioned that attempts to discuss the allegations with the officer in charge, Ms. Rose Kisuule, were unsuccessful, as she reportedly declined to meet him and did not respond to a prior warning.
In a separate development, security and intelligence officers recently apprehended an individual suspected of impersonating a NIRA official to defraud applicants. The suspect was found with forged documents, allegedly used to solicit money from the public. He is currently in custody, with authorities seeking to understand his alleged network.
The closure left dozens of applicants stranded outside the padlocked offices, unable to collect their national IDs or receive assistance. Many expressed deep frustration with the prolonged and bribery-laden process of obtaining identification in the district.
Efforts to reach Ms. Kisuule for comment were unsuccessful, as her known phone numbers were unreachable. Previously, she had cited severe understaffing, with only two employees, as a reason for hampered service delivery, a point that was met with anger by residents during a past community meeting.