A section of locals who turned up to collect their National Identity Cards at Kabale Municipal Stadium on Thursday, accused officials from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) of extortion.
The NIRA Kabale branch on Wednesday launched a mass issuance exercise for National Identity Cards across constituencies. The exercise was intended to have over 30,000 uncollected cards issued to the owners.
However, several residents alleged that some NIRA officials were demanding between five thousand and ten thousand shillings from applicants before issuing the National Identity cards.
Some of the concerned residents included Deus Byarugaba from Nyakakiika Village in Kitumba Sub-county, Gerald Natuyamba from Mumihanga Village, John Goodluck also from Nyakakiika Village in Kitumba Sub-county, and Alex Musinguzi from Rwakaraba Village in Northern Division.
The residents say NIRA officials had made radio announcements informing the public that the exercise was free of charge.
They say that upon arriving at Kabale Municipal Stadium, they were shocked when some officials started demanding money.
Derrick Niwamanya from Kigongi in Central Division, Peace Musimenta from Muruhita in Northern Division, and Pamela Ekiyansimiire from Butanda Sub-county also claim that they joined the lines expecting that no money would be asked.
They question why NIRA officials were asking for money for a service that had been publicly announced as free.
When contacted for a comment, Billy Basulwa, the NIRA officer in Charge of Kabale District, referred our reporter to Francis Kakuru, the Information Technology (IT) Officer at the station.
Kakuru said he was not aware of the accusations but noted that management would investigate the matter.
He emphasizes that the National Identity Card issuance exercise is strictly free of charge.
