By Fidel Boy Leon
As Uganda ramps up its mass registration campaign to bring millions of unregistered citizens into the national identification system, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has issued a stark warning to the public: don’t lend your National Identification Number (NIN).
Doing so could leave you legally exposed to crimes you didn’t commit.
“You’re legally responsible for any activity tied to your NIN,” NIRA warned in a statement this week, pointing to cases of financial fraud, identity misuse, and SIM card-related crime.
In Uganda, your National Identification Number (NIN) is more than just a reference number; it’s your official digital identity. It links you to nearly every formal service, both public and private.
Your National Identification Number (NIN) is essential for accessing a wide range of services in Uganda. With it, you can register SIM cards and mobile money accounts, open bank accounts or apply for loans, and apply for government jobs, contracts, or tenders.
It’s also required to register land or property, obtain travel documents like passports, and access benefits under government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and NSSF.
In short, your NIN is a gateway to full participation in both economic and civic life.
Because of its wide application, sharing your NIN carelessly is the digital equivalent of handing over your signature, fingerprints, and name to someone else, a move that could carry legal consequences.
But with that access comes responsibility. Lending or misusing your NIN doesn’t just risk inconvenience, it can entangle you in criminal investigations, fraud, or costly disputes.
In many Ugandan communities, particularly in rural and low-income areas, sharing one’s National Identification Number (NIN) is often seen as a gesture of trust or solidarity. It is often seen as a way to help a relative open a mobile money account, register a SIM card, or access a government programme.
Sometimes, people lend their NINs out of pressure, convenience, or simply to avoid conflict. But this well-intentioned act can come at a high cost. Once your NIN is used, you become legally accountable for any action linked to it, even if you had no involvement. Whether it’s a loan default, a fraudulent SIM card registration, or a crime committed under your name, the responsibility and potential legal consequences fall on you.
In most cases, the burden of proof rests with the NIN holder, not the person they tried to help. Many victims only realise the extent of the damage when they’re denied credit, summoned by police, or flagged during official processes.
Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019) places a legal obligation on individuals, institutions, and government agencies to safeguard personal data, especially sensitive information like National Identification Numbers (NINs).
Under this law, your NIN is classified as sensitive personal data and cannot be disclosed, shared, or processed without your explicit consent.
Any organisation that collects or uses your NIN must ensure it is kept secure, confidential, and used only for the specific purpose for which it was collected. Misusing someone’s NIN, whether for fraud, impersonation, or unauthorised transactions, is a criminal offence, punishable under both the Data Protection Act and the Computer Misuse Act.
How to check who is using your NIN
You can now check do a self-verification to ascertain the numbers registered under your NIN by simply dialling *197# across all networks. You then input your NIN and the list of numbers registered with your NIN will be displayed.
As Uganda pushes toward universal national ID coverage, citizens are urged to take ownership of their identities and remain vigilant. Whether it’s registering your children, updating your records, or safeguarding your NIN, the message is simple:
Your NIN is your digital identity, and with it comes legal responsibility.
At a time when millions remain undocumented and vulnerable to exploitation, understanding how to protect your identity is not just good practice, it’s essential citizenship.