Kampala, Uganda: The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has dismissed claims that the newborn daughter of State Minister for Minerals Development Hon Phiona Nyamutoro and musician Edirisa Musuuza aka Eddy Kenzo received preferential treatment after being issued a free birth certificate, saying the service is available to all Ugandan children registered within six months of birth.
The clarification follows public debate on social media after photographs emerged showing the couple registering their three-week-old baby girl at a NIRA registration centre.
Some social media users questioned whether the child had benefited from special consideration because of her parents’ prominence in public life.
However, NIRA officials said the certificate was processed under an existing government programme that applies equally to all eligible Ugandan children.
Speaking during a press briefing at Naguru Police Headquarters on Monday, NIRA Registrar Clare Ollama said birth registration and certification remain free for children registered within the first six months after birth.
“The free birth certificate issued to the child of Phiona Nyamutoro and Eddy Kenzo was processed under the same policy that applies to all Ugandan children registered within the stipulated period,” Ollama said.
She emphasized that the programme is open to every Ugandan parent and is not reserved for politicians, celebrities or government officials.
According to NIRA, the initiative is part of government efforts to strengthen Uganda’s civil registration and national identity management systems.
Officials said early birth registration helps establish a child’s legal identity and facilitates future access to services such as education, healthcare, passports and national identity cards.
The authority also reminded the public that first-time registration for a National Identification Number (NIN) remains free for all Ugandans.
NIRA warned that delayed registration can create administrative challenges and increase the risk of inaccuracies in personal records.
Under the current registration policy, birth registration conducted after nine months attracts a fee of Shs10,000, while individuals seeking registration after the age of 17 are required to pay Shs50,000.
Outreach Programme for Rural Communities
Ollama further revealed that NIRA has expanded community outreach services to ensure parents in remote areas can access registration services more easily.
She said parents who organize groups of at least 10 children below nine months of age can request NIRA officials to visit their communities and process registrations on-site.
The programme is available across the country and is intended to boost birth registration rates, particularly in underserved areas.
NIRA has in recent years intensified campaigns encouraging parents to register children shortly after birth as part of efforts to improve national population records and identity management.
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