MPs demand answers over dysfunctional QR codes on new national IDs

Members of Parliament in Uganda are demanding answers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) over the persistent failure of QR codes on new national identity cards. The issue has been ongoing for months, despite NIRA's assurances that it would be resolved.

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Earlier on, I asked the Minister of Internal Affairs and NIRA to explain why QR codes on the new National IDs are reportedly still not fully integrated into the operational system.

Aswa County MP Patrick Okello Onguti brought the matter to the floor of Parliament, highlighting that banks and other essential service providers are unable to verify the new IDs. This inability stems from the QR codes' failure to scan, rendering the cards unusable for verification purposes. Onguti noted that NIRA had acknowledged the problem on February 9, 2026, and committed to a resolution by March 31, 2026.

"But right now, as I speak now, Ugandans are crying out because when you go into banks and some of these service providers that require QR code, the new national IDs are not corresponding," Onguti told fellow MPs. He further explained that the malfunctioning codes are forcing citizens to incur additional costs, such as paying Shs5,000 for a NIRA letter, simply to prove their identity. "This is unfair to people who already have a valid national ID," he stated.

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But right now, as I speak now, Ugandans are crying out because when you go into banks and some of these service providers that require QR code, the new national IDs are not corresponding.

Several other MPs echoed Onguti's concerns, emphasizing that the ongoing failure of the QR codes is hindering access to critical services, particularly in the banking and telecommunications sectors. They warned that this situation could undermine the intended benefits of the new generation national IDs, which were designed with enhanced security and digital verification capabilities to combat fraud. The Minister of Internal Affairs has been directed to present a detailed statement to Parliament next week, outlining the cause of the delay, the number of affected citizens, and NIRA's plan to fully integrate the QR codes into the national identification system.

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Some affected Ugandans are being required to pay Shs5,000 for a NIRA letter just to be identified. This is unfair to people who already have a valid national ID.