PWDs across the country are being registered to get the national ID cards; the exercise has received low turn up due to many factors.
By Acipa Doreen & Milton Emmy Akwam
Lira – February 17, 2022: National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) is conducting a nationwide registration of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) for them to get the national identity cards (IDs).
The exercise will end on February 28, according to the NIRA officer Innocensia Akullu who spoke with TND News Doreen Acipa on Wednesday.
After a low turn up by the PWDs for the exercise, their national chairman also a member of the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), Katto Gabriel Magaru has asked them to turn up in big numbers and get registered.
“All PWDs without national IDs are requested to move to the designated participating sub-counties in their respective districts to take advantage of this open opportunity and get registered in order to benefit from SAGE, Emyooga, PDM, among others,” Katto’s statement reads.
“Nothing for us without us,” he added.
“…move with your guide, assistant, guardian, relative who possesses a valid national identity card,” he has advised, adding that, “NIRA, Giso, chairpersons of local councils are all available in the sub-counties to help you get registered.”
Describing national ID cards as “lifetime documents”, he stated, “The importance of a national ID is no longer a topic of discussion.”
This week, the chairperson of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) for Lira City, Mathew Omara spoke with Our Reporter, Acipa Doreen.
Omara, who is also the male councilor representing PWDs in Lira City Council said many persons with disabilities did not get the national ID cards.
“The last registration was requiring things like thumbprints yet some people are disabled from their hands,” he said.
Omara also said many persons with disabilities have been missing the government projects such as National Special Grants for Disabled Persons because they lack the national cards.
And because of that, Omara explained that in 2021, NUDIPU requested the government through the NIRA for special consideration to registering all PWDs.