Uganda is just weeks away from launching five modules of the Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) as part of its national biometric digital identity system.
According to the CEO of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Rosemary Kisembo, the Authority has maintained close collaboration with the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIIT-B), where MOSIP is developed. “We’ve had IIIT-B on speed dial,” Kisembo told The Ankole Times Reporter, highlighting the urgency and dedication behind the implementation effort.
NIRA has been actively customizing the MOSIP platform to ensure it aligns with Uganda’s legal and regulatory framework. A pilot project is already underway, and in the coming two to three months, Uganda plans to integrate its birth and death registries into the digital ID system.
The five MOSIP modules being implemented include:
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ID registration
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Renewals
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Updating and correction of personal data
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Issuance of IDs
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Replacement of lost IDs
Additionally, Uganda is working towards launching a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to enhance digital financial transactions.
“The immediate benefit of UPI will be a reduction in the cost of transactions,” Kisembo said. “It creates a free wallet for every citizen, enabling seamless money movement.”
UPI has become a global benchmark for digital payments, according to a recent editorial in a state-owned Indian publication. Kisembo praised India’s digital identity system, calling it a “leapfrog” development and a model for Uganda and other countries.
However, she also emphasized the importance of sustainable funding to support the growth and resilience of Africa’s digital infrastructure.
Uganda has been rapidly expanding the capacity of its digital ID system. Thousands of biometric registration kits have been deployed, and the government has hired thousands of staff to operate the kits, verify data, and manage printing equipment. The ongoing mass biometric registration campaign is expected to add over 17 million people to the system.
