Rosemary Kisembo named new NIRA Executive Director

Mrs. Rosemary Kisembo has been named the new Executive Director of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the Daily Express has learnt.

Kisembo replaces Judy Obitre-Gama, whose contract expired and was not renewed.

The NIRA board had last year written to the President, informing him that the contract of Obitre-Gama, who had been executive director since 2015, was about to expire. And as such, it was recommending the renewal of the contract.

However, in response, the President reportedly said given the problems faced by NIRA especially, relating to the issuance of national identity cards, there was a need to identify a new executive director, especially with an Information Technology background.

“I am therefore directing you to work with the board of directors of NIRA and identify a suitable candidate, consult me before a final decision is reached,” the President wrote in the letter to the board.

By the time of her appointment, Kisembo has been working at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). And following the appointment, UNRA wrote on its Twitter page: “Congratulations to Ms Rosemary Kisembo who now moves to #NIRA as the new Executive Director. You’re passionate and dedicated to everything you do. We congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment! Rosemary has been the Head of ICT at UNRA.”

Among other responsibilities, NIRA’s mandate is to create, manage, maintain and operationalize the National Identification Register by registering all citizens of Uganda; registering non-citizens of Uganda who are lawful residents in Uganda; and registering births and deaths.

It does so by assigning a unique National Identification Number to every person registered. It is also charged with issuing National Identification Cards and non-nationals Identification Cards to all registered persons.