NEW NATIONAL IDs IN UGANDA TO FEATURE IRIS BIOMETRICS

Uganda is making technological progress as their National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is set to introduce Iris Biometrics as an additional security feature in its national IDs. This will be carried out alongside the registration the Ugandan government initially planned, which was to offer either new or renewed National ID to its citizens estimated to be 30 million. The mass registration exercise to enrol Ugandans into the new system is scheduled to begin on the 1st of  June, 2024, and the process will be concluded in January 2025. These new national IDs will be needed as a required document when travelling within the East African region. The last batch of national IDs, with a validity of 10 years, were issued in 2014 and 2015. These new national IDs would also be valid for a decade.

THE REGISTRATION PROCESS

The registration process is available to all citizens living in or outside Uganda and are above 16 years of age. The enrolment option is for those who do not presently own an ID or have never registered for one. There is also an option to renew the national ID, which is open to those who got their national ID issued in 2014 or 2015 as these national IDs would expire in either 2024 or 2025. For the individuals whose national IDs will expire after 2025, they are not required to renew their national IDs at this level.

To make the registration and renewal process seamless, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA)  plans to put up mobile enrolment sites across districts in Uganda. Anyone applying would have to fill out a form for either enrolment or renewal of the IDs, and afterwards, their biometrics will be collected. The application can be done in person at the mobile site or online as NIRA plans to ensure that those with access to the  Internet can start their applications online and later on visit the established mobile sites to complete their application which involves the collection of individual’s biometrics. There are no charges for the registration and renewal process. However, there is  a cost of Shs50,000 ($12.9) attached to express service for individuals who want to get their national IDs within 48 hours. This is also the cost to replace a lost ID.

 IRIS BIOMETRICS 

The Iris biometrics is another form of biometric authentication the same way fingerprints are used to identify individuals. The Iris is the coloured ring outline in each eye that surrounds the pupil. Every person’s iris has a different pattern that is mostly unchangeable throughout the years. The Iris biometrics detects the distinct patterns in the eye, and this biometric data will be inputted into the identity management system.

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) explained that introducing the iris biometrics is to improve the security feature for its national ID and in these ID cards, there will also be inclusion of a unique element that can be detected with Ultraviolet (UV) light. This will discourage individuals from falsification or cloning of the cards as attempting to do so would be far more challenging.

LIMITATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE 

There are doubts regarding delay of the enrolment process as The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) seems to have trouble with the preparations for this process.  This may be due to inadequate money needed to hire staff for the registration as well as purchase the major systems necessary for the process. If a delay occurs, it would lead to the national IDs not being ready in time and cause a major complication as the ID cards are used in various authentication activities.

Gen. David Muhoozi, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, based on a report, spoke about the issues being faced relating to funding. He stated that while the Government has approved a supplementary budget of Shs300 billion ($77.5 million) to tackle this issue, Shs192 billion ($49.6 million) is the amount that has been disbursed and there isn’t enough funds available to employ the registration staff.

The Minister, however, confirmed that the procurement of the necessary systems is ongoing and the registration staff are undergoing training about the new National Security Information System in India.

When the issue of renewing the national IDs after 10 years was questioned, the Minister explained that security features on the national IDs degrade over time. He further said that the physical features of registered persons may change, hence the significance of the renewal process after 10 years.

CONCLUSION 

Other African countries such as Malawi, Morocco, Benin, and Zimbabwe have implemented biometric authentication in their national Identification systems. This program, taken up by Uganda is aimed at  strengthening  security and decreasing fraudulent activities. This demonstrates the government’s commitment to utilising technology to improve their national security and identification process. 

SAWA ENERGY ON A MISSION TO BECOME EAST AFRICA’S LARGEST SOLAR POWER PRIVATE PROVIDER

 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) across East Africa have been grappling with power challenges for decades. Sawa Energy with operations in Rwanda and Uganda is putting a halt to the issue of power small scale business owners face via offering integrated energy interventions at no cost, no operation and maintenance fees, and ensuring a seamless worry-free transition to greener and more affordable energy.

Sawa Energy gained the financial support of Renew Capital, an investment company that believes in Sawa Energy’s mission and goals. 

ABOUT SAWA ENERGY

For a renewable resource company established in 2021, its mission and goals are quite ambitious. Sawa Energy’s mission extends its tentacles beyond the horizons of providing power in that it focuses on creating, possessing  and operating solar systems for numerous consumers thus, ensuring significant money saving together with reducing electricity pricing fluctuations, as long-term outcomes. These outcomes, in no doubt, are in obvious alignment with the vision, mission, values, and objectives of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP). The primary aim of Sawa Energy is to become the largest private provider of solar power seeking to deploy 50 MW by 2030 while supporting 1,000 clients. 

Sawa Energy, founded by a group of tri-entrepreneurs, popularly known to be environmentally and socially conscious, consistently infuse notable experiences from solar, finance, and business into the existence of the innovation in Africa Samuel Kaufman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of Sawa Energy firmly emphasized the company is passionate about building a business whose delivery is rooted in three strong pillars-building partnerships with East African companies; reducing emissions; and providing robust returns to the investors. Sawa Energy firmly believes in all their stakeholders benefiting from the already established sustainable model. Other team members of Sawa Energy excluding the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is an investor and operator comprise of ‘Jordan Zipkin’, an active entrepreneur and investor in climate tech; ‘Edwin Oloo’, an experienced professional in the Solar Industry for over 7 years; ‘Eder Munyampenda’, a seasoned engineer with design and project supervision experience across the Rwanda country; ‘Allan Okello’, a business development professional with backgrounds in Ugandan solar industry and tech-enabled travel sector; ‘Elsa Izere’, the only female team member is a seasoned investment professional with a focus on sustainable and climate investments within the African markets; ‘Sadiki Businge’, a natural-born entrepreneur with strong flare for technology and renewable energy; ‘Moses Munyui’, a business development specialist with 10 years experience in renewable energy; and ‘Guillaume Charpenel’, an active entrepreneur, investor and catalyst in the area of renewable energy in Ontario.

SAWA ENERGY’S STEPS FOR EFFECTIVENESS

In ensuring the business owners save, Sawa Energy highlighted three (3) steps for effectiveness. The First task is to ‘Schedule a call’. This provides them with insight into your energy needs as well as decipher if their service will be a good fit for you. Second on the list is the ‘On-site visit’ where an energy specialist is sent to your abode for the purpose of assessing the project’s viability and to determine suitable sites for the solar system. The finale involves ‘Getting a new electricity tariff plan’ with the sole aim of ensuring clients enjoy affordable, renewable energy for 35 years.

SAWA ENERGY’S PARTNERS

For effective functionality of the company’s vision and goals, Sawa Energy has partnered with numerous bodies ranging from engineering partners (like EAP, Equatorsolar and All in Trade) to funding partners (such as PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited {PwC], Energy + Environmental Economics {E3}, Legalwise Chambers and Tugliq Energy) but of recent, Sawa Energy won the heart of a funding company evident by this statement ‘Sawa Energy’s approach to affordable and sustainable energy solutions is transformative for East African SME’ uttered by ‘Blessing Layee-Maima Caine’, the company’s investment manager for Rwanda. This newest funding company is none other than the famous Renew Capital. Sawa Energy has definitely hit the jackpot in securing this able and worthy partner capable of ensuring the 2030 goal of being the largest private provider of solar power is met all over East Africa. Renew Capital is proud to support Sawa Energy’s vision of a future where businesses can grow sustainably and cost-effectively. This support has further rooted the plans of Sawa Energy for small and medium-sized business owners in the whole of East Africa. Renew Capital believes in investing in Africa’s small and medium enterprises so as to develop its private sectors. 

To draw the curtain, in an overpopulated region like East Africa where hydropower is the preponderant source of electricity, the invention of solar power by Sawa Energy is one to be embraced by notable capable funding companies across East Africa for the improvement of the general public at large.

From Local to Global: Tripesa's Visionary Approach to Digitizing Africa's Tourism

In the heart of East Africa's burgeoning tech scene, Tripesa, a game-changer in the tourism industry, emerged in 2021 with a mission to transform the digital landscape for small tourism businesses across Uganda and Kenya. With a dedicated team of 17 members, Tripesa is flipping the script for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by providing a customisable, no-code platform to build and manage online commercial presence.

Aimed at empowering the underrepresented players in Africa's tourism game - the local tour guides, car-hire services, and souvenir sellers - Tripesa's platform, priced at an affordable $180 per year, acts as a springboard into the digital space. This platform, reminiscent of Shopify but tailored specifically for the tourism sector, allows these businesses to establish an e-commerce-enabled website without needing intricate technical know-how.

At the helm of this revolution is David Gonahasa, a visionary behind some of Africa's pioneering tourism-booking marketplaces, leading Tripesa alongside tech-savvy co-founders Thomas Karugaba and Raymond Byaruhanga. Their combined expertise in fintech and tech development injects Tripesa with a potent blend of industry insight and technical prowess.

Leveraging their user base of over 400 and a revenue model tapping into subscriptions, payments, and lead generation, Tripesa isn't just about profits; they're actively collaborating with governments and partners to drive mass digitalization initiatives.

In a laissez-faire economy where giants rule, Tripesa stands as a beacon of hope, aiming to democratise technology for Africa's tourism sector. As they pave the way for a more interconnected and prosperous future for small tourism enterprises, Tripesa's journey exemplifies a commitment to levelling the playing field and embracing digital empowerment in East Africa's vibrant tourism tapestry.