Uganda Advances Digital ID System with MOSIP Implementation and Eyes UPI for Financial Inclusion
Uganda is preparing to launch a Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which Kisembo believes will immediately reduce transaction costs and provide citizens with free digital wallets, drawing inspiration from India’s successful digital payments infrastructure.
Rosemary Kisembo, the CEO of Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), emphasized the strong partnership with the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIIT-B), the developers of MOSIP. Kisembo stated that NIRA has maintained very close communication with IIIT-B, using the phrase “We’ve had IIIT-B on speed dial” to illustrate the immediate and committed nature of their collaboration in implementing the system.
NIRA is actively tailoring the MOSIP platform to meet Uganda’s specific legal and regulatory requirements. A pilot program is already in progress, and within the next two to three months, the country intends to integrate its systems for registering births and deaths with the new digital ID framework.
The five MOSIP modules being implemented include
- ID registration
- Renewals
- Updating and correction of personal data
- Issuance of IDs
- Replacement of lost IDs
Additionally, Uganda is working towards launching a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to enhance digital financial transactions.
According to NIRA CEO Rosemary Kisembo, the most immediate advantage of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be lower transaction costs. She explained that it essentially provides every citizen with a free digital wallet, facilitating smooth and easy money transfers.
A recent editorial in an Indian state-owned publication has highlighted UPI as a leading global standard for digital payments. NIRA CEO Rosemary Kisembo echoed this sentiment, commending India’s digital identity system as a significant “leapfrog” in development and a system that Uganda and other nations could learn from.
Nevertheless, Kisembo also stressed the need for consistent and reliable financial resources to ensure the expansion and robustness of digital infrastructure across Africa.
Uganda is significantly scaling up its digital ID system. The government has distributed thousands of biometric registration devices and recruited a large workforce to operate them, validate information, and handle printing processes. The current large-scale biometric registration drive aims to enroll more than 17 million additional individuals in the system.
