High Court Admits Electronic NIRA Document in Minsa Kabanda Name Dispute

The High Court has cleared the admission of a National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) document in an ongoing legal challenge regarding inconsistencies in official names used by Minsa Kabanda.

Justice Flavia Nabakooza delivered the ruling after dismissing an objection brought forward by Ambrose Tebiasa, the lawyer representing the first respondent. Tebiasa had contested the document’s admissibility on the grounds that it was issued electronically without a physical certification stamp and was addressed directly to the Registrar of the Court.

During her evaluation, Justice Nabakooza explained that she personally verified the document’s legitimacy by scanning the printed QR code using her mobile phone, which linked directly to NIRA’s official electronic system.

Invoking Section 7(8) of the Electronic Transactions Act, the judge highlighted that electronic records are legally recognized and admissible provided their integrity and origin are authenticated. She differentiated this case from past rulings where audio and video files were rejected due to unverified sources, emphasizing that independent verification changes the outcome.

The judge further remarked that insisting on traditional ink stamps for records already authenticated online would hinder the progress and efficiency of modern e-government services. She clarified, however, that admissibility is separate from evidential weight, meaning the parties remain free to challenge the content of the document during the trial.

Find more details on the ruling from the Nile Post.