Uganda’s Digital ID System: A Cocktail of Discrimination

The new preliminary report presents findings of a study that seeks to establish the impact of a national identity card system in Uganda (commonly known as “Ndaga Muntu") on people's economic, social and cultural rights concerning the state's obligations to provide services. The research obtains a random sample of 76 respondents (53% male and 47% female). Data was collected using qualitative and quantitative tools and was analysed using Excel and Stata software.

From the findings, 25% of male and 13% of female respondents were uncomfortable with sharing a lot of personal information before getting an ID. Information relating to ethnicity, tribe, parents' details, TIN, occupation, address and spouse details were considered an invasion of their privacy and a ploy by the government to spy on them.

The most significant data insecurity and mistrust levels were among those over 50 and under 30 years. The reason given for this was that there were high chances of data misuse, bribery and data hacking. Among the sampled respondents, most had no problem with their data written on the front and the back of the card, although they wanted a phone number added on the ID for easy contact if it was lost or in case of an emergency.

Out of the total population sampled, only 12% of respondents had obtained their National IDs at the study time. A proportion of 88% had submitted their registration forms but had not received their National IDs, having waited for over six months.

The report recommended that the parliament of Uganda should review section 66 of the Registration of Persons Act, 2015. Suspend the pre-conditioning of the enjoyment of basic fundamental freedoms and rights to a National ID immediately until the National Identification and Regulatory Authority (NIRA) has the total capacity to deliver on its mandate. The government should strengthen NIRA's human, financial, and technical resources to efficiently and effectively execute the agency's mandate of providing National ID to Ugandans promptly, among others.