Kampala, Uganda – The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) joined the Ministry of Health in an engagement meeting aimed at sensitizing Buganda cultural leaders about the dangers and the preventive measures of TB and Leprosy in the country. NIRA leveraged this occasion to appeal to cultural leaders to sensitize their communities, pregnant mothers, women of child bearing age and fathers on the need for birth registration especially of children below one year of age.

During the meeting, NIRA Executive Director, Ms. Rosemary Kisembo, highlighted that only 2% of births in Uganda are registered within the first year of birth. She stressed the risks of not registering births, including loss of inheritance, child abuse, early marriage, and trafficking. Ms. Kisembo emphasized the need for expectant mothers to register for National IDs so that they are able to register their children using their National Identification Numbers (NINs).

She further called on the gathering to encourage parents to register births at least within 30 days after birth, noting that Uganda lags behind the rest of Africa, which has a 50% birth registration rate within the first year of birth.

NIRA is mandated to carry out registration of all births that occur within Uganda. The Authority registers all citizens to acquire NINs, including newborn children. All NIRA offices countrywide offer this service, and the authority organizes occasional outreaches to bring services closer to communities.

NIRA’s participation in the engagement meeting is part of the Authority’s efforts to promote birth registration and improve maternal and child health outcomes across Uganda. The Authority remains committed to working alongside cultural leaders and other stakeholders to promote birth registration and ensure that all children have access to their basic rights and entitlements.