After a break of two weeks, the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) has since resumed registration for students and staff in halls of residences and colleges.

NIRA, a body that is responsible for registering people in Uganda, had halted the exercise two weeks ago  in consultation with Makerere University authorities.

Ritah Namisango, the university Principal Public Relations Officer, told Journalism@Mak that her office had been informed about the exercise.

"My office has been informed about the NIRA registration of staff and students from November 5th to November 15^th,” she said in a telephone conversation.

Muhairwe Tushabe, who is supervising the NIRA team at Makerere, those coming for registration have to meet some requirements.

These include parents’ identification cards in case the applicant is a minor, a letter from the chairman Local Council One of their place of birth, which should confirm one as the resident as well as the time they have lived there. For those who don't have their parents’ identify cards, they can get one of a close relative whose credentials must first be confirmed by the registration officers.

In a letter dated November 1, 2018, Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe informed the executive director of NIRA that the University wants to automate its students' life cycle management processes through implementation of a government procured Academic Information Management System (AIMS) that is being rolled out in all public Universities and Tertiary institutions.

The information is meant to be linked to the national identity database in future for purposes of identity verification for the community. This was in reference to the Vice Chancellor's letter dated 18th October. The letter explains the initial date of registration of 22nd to 26th October as unrealistic.

Tushabe said, "We were given a letter by the University administration. However, two days after we had responded we were asked to halt the process."

He added that they first stayed within campus premises expecting to get a quick response from the administration; however, when it delayed they had to pack up and go back.