REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ACT.

"applicant" means an individual who makes an application for an entry to be made in the register or for the issue or reissue of a national identification card or aliens identification card;

"Authority" means the National Identification and Registration Authority established under this Act;

"Board" means the Board of the Authority established under this Act;

"Citizen" means a citizen of Uganda under the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda;

"currency point" has the value assigned to it in Schedule 1;

"data" means facts or information which may be—

(a) recorded with the intention that it may be processed; or

(b) recorded as part of a relevant filing system or with the intention that they form part of a relevant filing system;

"document" includes any medium in which information is recorded, whether printed or on tape or film or by electronic means or otherwise and a map, diagram, photograph, film, microfilm, video tape, sound recording, machine readable record, or any record which is capable of being produced from a machine-readable record by means of equipment or a programme or a combination of both and which is used for that purpose by the authority which holds the record;

"electronic database" means a collection of electronic records organised for ease and speed of search and retrieval using specific data management software;

"Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the National Identification and Registration Authority;

"fingerprint" means a record of the unique pattern of curves formed by the ridges and valleys and other characteristics of the fingers of an individual;

"holder" means an individual to whom the lawful possession of a national identification card or alien's identification card has been granted under this Act;

"identity data" means the physiographic characteristics of an individual including the biometric information of an individual required for the purpose of establishing that individual's identity;

"identity document" includes the following—

(a) birth certificate;

(b) baptism certificate;

(d) a voter's identification card;

(e) an immigration document;

(f) a valid Uganda or foreign passport or a document that may be used in place of a passport;

(g) a valid driving licence;

(h) a valid residence permit; or

(i) a certificate of acquired citizenship;

"information" means data about a person that is recorded in any form including—

(a) data that relates to the nationality, age or marital status of the person;

(b) data that relates to the educational level, or occupation of the person or data that relates to a financial transaction in which the person has been involved;

(d) identity data;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for internal affairs;

"pass" means a special pass, pupils or students pass, prohibited immigrant pass, interstate pass, visitors pass, in-transit pass, dependent pass and reentry pass;

"person" means an individual or natural person;

"record" includes information that is recorded in any form or in any medium of writing, print, photographic, electronic or otherwise, but does not include a computer programme or other mechanism that can produce a record;

"refugee" means, subject to the Constitution, a person who is recognised as a refugee by the Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) under the relevant refugee instruments and the Refugees Act;

"Register" means the National Identification Register established under this Act;

"registration centres" means centres that are designated as such by the National Identification and Registration Authority in accordance with section 58 of this Act;

"registration officer" means any officer appointed by the National Identification and Registration Authority with responsibility for registering of citizens under this Act;

"residence permit" means a permit granted to a foreign national who intends to remain in the country for a substantial period which in the first instance does not exceed four years and may be extended.

PART II
NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY.

4. Establishment of the National Identification and Registration Authority.

(1) There is established a National Identification and Registration Authority.

(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal and may, for the discharge of its functions under this Act—

(a) acquire, hold and dispose of movable and immovable property;

(b) sue and be sued in its corporate name; and

5. Functions of the Authority.

(1) The functions of the Authority are—

(a) to create, manage, maintain and operate the National Identification Register;

(b) to register citizens of Uganda;

(d) to register births and deaths;

(e) to assign a unique national identification number to every person registered in the register;

(f) to issue national identification cards and aliens identification cards;

(g) to harmonise and incorporate into the register, where applicable, information from other databases in Government agencies relating to registration of persons;

(h) to verify and authenticate information relating to the registration and identification of persons;

(i) to collate information obtained under this Act and reproduce it as may be required, from time to time;

(j) to ensure the preservation, protection and security of any information or data collected, obtained, maintained or stored in the register;

(k) to promote the use of national identification cards to advance the economic, political and social activities in the country;

(l) to research on the developments in the identity management sector; and

(m) to perform such other duties which, in the opinion of the Authority, are necessary or expedient for the discharge of its functions under this Act.

(2) In the performance of its functions, the Authority shall observe generally accepted information security practices and procedures, and specific industry or professional rules and regulations.

6. Cooperation with other agencies.

(1) The Authority shall cooperate with other government ministries, departments and agencies in the implementation of this Act.

(2) For the purpose subsection (1) all ministries, departments and agencies of government shall accord to the Authority such assistance as may be necessary to ensure the proper discharge of the functions of the Authority.

7. Powers of the Authority.

In carrying out the functions specified under this Act, the Authority may—

(a) establish a mechanism for collaboration and promotion of partnerships between various categories of players in the registration and identification of persons sector;

(b) charge fees for services provided by the Authority.

8. Powers of Minister.

The Minister may give directions in writing to the Authority with respect to the policy to be observed and implemented by the Authority, and the Authority shall comply with those directions.

Board of the Authority.

9. Board of the Authority.

(1) The Authority shall have a Board, which shall be the governing body of the Authority.

(2) The Board shall comprise of—

(a) a chairperson;

(b) a representative of—

(i) the ministry responsible for internal affairs;

(ii) the Electoral Commission;

(iii) the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control;

(iv) the Uganda Registration Services Bureau;

(v) the National Information Technology Authority, Uganda; and

(vi) the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

(d) the Executive Director, who shall have no right to vote.

(3) The chairperson and the persons referred to in subsection 2(c) shall be appointed by the Minister from among persons with knowledge and proven experience in any of the following fields; registration of persons, law, information and communications technology, public administration, immigration management, national security or any other relevant field.

(4) The Minister shall, in appointing the members of the Board, ensure that there is a balance of skills and gender.

10. Disqualification from appointment.

A person shall not be appointed to the Board who—

(a) has been convicted of an offence under this Act or of an offence involving dishonesty or fraud by a competent court in Uganda or elsewhere;

(b) has been adjudged bankrupt under any law in force in Uganda and has not been discharged;

(c) has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for six months or more without the option of a fine by a competent court in Uganda or elsewhere; or

(d) is a Member of Parliament, a Minister or a member of a local government council; or

(e) is a civil servant except those stated under section 9(2)(b).

11. Tenure of office of members of the Board.

(1) A member of the Board shall hold office for four years and is eligible for reappointment for one

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