By Fred Bategeka-29th Oct,2025
Kagadi
Police in Kagadi district have arrested a National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) official, over allegations of extorting money from residents seeking to renew their national identity cards.
The suspect currently detained at Kagadi Central Police Station has been identified as Bacil Akugizibwa the NIRA Supervisor for Mabale zone.
The arrest which took place Tuesday morning was initiated by the Kagadi deputy Resident District Commissioner Jeremy Namanya, who acted on a tip-off from concerned members of the public.
The suspect was allegedly soliciting bribes ranging from UGX 5,000 to UGX 10,000 to facilitate the processing of ID renewals—a service that is supposed to be free of charge.
Namanya has warned NIRA Officials against extorting money from the citizens saying the suspect will be charged in court.
He urged members of the public to report any further cases of bribery or misconduct by public officers involved in national ID registration and renewal.
Insert…..Jeremy on NIRA suspect
The suspect Bacil Akugizibwe has confessed to have extorted 10,000shillings from a woman who had lost a national ID seeking replacement. He says it was a set up to cause his arrest.
He said the small money collections from the public have supported them to run the registration exercise smoothly since they receive less logistical support from government.
Insert…..Akugizibwe on money
Residents have commended the deputy RDC for the arrest of the suspect decrying massive extortion in the exercise. They said the NIRA officials have been soliciting bribes ranging from Ugx5000 to Ugx10,000 from every applicant seeking ID renewal services.
Insert…Locals on commending RDC
The ongoing national mass enrollment and ID renewal exercise aims to renew 15.8 million expiring national IDs and register 17.2 million new applicants. The process is vital for accessing government services, voting, and traveling within the East African region.
