Police in the North Kyoga Region have launched investigations into individuals reportedly spreading fear and misinformation about the ongoing national identity card (ID) renewal exercise, with some falsely branding it as “satanic.”
North Kyoga Police spokesperson, Patrick Jimmy Okema, confirmed that security agencies are taking these claims seriously, as they pose a threat to the smooth running of the crucial government service.
“We have received complaints from various areas about individuals spreading rumors that the national ID renewal exercise is satanic, and urging people not to participate,” Okema said, emphasizing that this is a matter of grave concern.
He urged the public to treat the national ID as a vital document necessary for accessing essential services such as SIM card registration, recruitment into security forces, acquiring passports, driver’s licenses, government jobs, and health treatments.
“Without a national ID, individuals are excluded from many essential services,” he stated.
Okema condemned those spreading anti-ID sentiments, calling them “mad and dangerous” for undermining national development and spreading harmful misinformation. He also described the perpetrators as lacking patriotic ideals, stressing the importance of educating such individuals to protect the country’s lawful governance.
This is not the first time such claims have surfaced in the region. Similar allegations were reported in Amolatar District, where rumors linked the biometric registration process for government services to satanic practices, causing fear in rural communities. Security and religious leaders had to intervene and educate villagers on the importance of national documentation to quell the panic.
Okema appealed to community members to report anyone spreading such claims and encouraged citizens to work with law enforcement in identifying and stopping the culprits.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is currently conducting the ID renewal and mass enrollment exercise, with a focus on decentralizing access to make services available to rural populations.
Authorities are committed to ensuring the exercise proceeds smoothly, emphasizing the importance of national ID registration for all Ugandans.
