PARLIAMENT – KAMPALA – Hon. Karim Masaba, the Member of Parliament representing Industrial Division in Mbale City, has raised concerns over the alleged leakage and sale of Ugandans’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) to individuals without National Identity Cards, seeking an explanation from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on how it intends to address the problem.
Masaba raised the matter on the floor of Parliament, questioning the measures URA plans to implement to prevent the unauthorised circulation and misuse of citizens’ identification details. He warned that the alleged practice could undermine the accuracy of taxpayer assessments and complicate efforts to establish the correct identities of individuals involved in tax-related transactions.
The legislator’s concerns highlight the importance of protecting personal identification information, particularly because NINs are used in official verification processes and access to various public services. Any unauthorised disclosure or use of such information could expose citizens to identity misuse and create difficulties when their details are used without their knowledge or consent.
Masaba’s intervention also draws attention to the responsibility of public institutions to maintain secure systems for handling sensitive personal data. Effective verification procedures are essential to ensuring that identification numbers are used for legitimate purposes and are not accessed, shared or traded by unauthorised individuals.
The matter raises questions about the safeguards in place to protect citizens’ records and the effectiveness of mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorised access to personal information. It also underscores the need for relevant authorities to identify and address any weaknesses that could allow identification details to circulate outside authorised channels.
For taxpayers, the protection of personal information is particularly important because inaccurate or misused identification details could potentially create confusion in tax records and complicate the identification of individuals responsible for particular transactions. Strong data protection measures would help minimise these risks and strengthen public confidence in government systems.
URA’s response will be important in clarifying how the reported leakages are being addressed, what measures are available to prevent the misuse of NINs and whether additional verification controls are necessary. Any confirmed cases of unauthorised access to or sale of identification details would also require appropriate investigation and action by the relevant authorities.
Masaba’s parliamentary intervention places the protection of personal data and the integrity of taxpayer identification systems firmly on the public accountability agenda. His concerns highlight the importance of ensuring that citizens’ identification details remain secure and that the systems used in tax administration are reliable and properly protected.
The matter now calls for a clear explanation from the relevant authorities, alongside effective safeguards to protect Ugandans’ personal information. Strengthening the security of identification records would help promote accurate taxpayer assessments, reduce the risk of identity misuse and reinforce public trust in the institutions responsible for managing sensitive national data.
