A major online fraud scheme posing as Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has been uncovered, prompting a joint investigation by the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
The sophisticated scam, which used a counterfeit website to mimic NIRA’s official online portal, has defrauded unsuspecting Ugandans of millions of shillings in bogus payments for “national ID services.”
According to NIRA, the fraudsters behind the fake platform replicated the Authority’s official layout, including the national coat of arms and images of President Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady, to make the site appear authentic.
The counterfeit website, operating under the name Ug Finder, lured citizens into paying as much as UGX 300,000 for fake “express ID services” that do not exist under NIRA’s operations.
Claire Olama, the NIRA Registration Officer for Buikwe District, confirmed that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and UCC have already commenced investigations into the scam.
She said the agencies are tracing the origins of the fraudulent website and the individuals running it, with the aim of dismantling the operation and bringing the culprits to justice.
“The Criminal Investigations Department and UCC have already begun investigating the matter and are working to close the fraudulent website and arrest those behind it,” Olama said.
Olama clarified that NIRA’s only legitimate web address is [www.nira.go.ug](http://www.nira.go.ug), and any other domain claiming to offer national ID registration or renewal services is fake.
She emphasized that all NIRA services—including national ID registration, renewal, and replacement—are provided free of charge through official government channels.
“There is no express or paid version of national ID registration,” she said. “All national ID registration and mass enrollment services are free of charge, and we urge the public not to fall victim to online scams or individuals claiming to fast-track applications for money.”
The fraudulent platform, she noted, has exploited the current nationwide mass enrollment and ID validation exercise, targeting individuals urgently seeking to update or replace their national identification cards.
Many victims reportedly came across the fake website through targeted social media advertisements and search engine listings, which directed them to the counterfeit portal. Once there, users were prompted to fill in their personal details and make payments via mobile money under the promise of “express” ID processing.
NIRA has since flagged the issue to law enforcement and the communications regulator, urging swift action to protect citizens from identity theft and financial loss.
Cybersecurity analysts warn that such fraudulent websites often serve a dual purpose: stealing both money and sensitive personal data, which can later be used in other crimes such as impersonation, digital fraud, or illegal SIM card registration.
In a statement, NIRA reassured the public that its systems remain secure and that the official online services are only accessible through the government domain ending in “.go.ug.”
The Authority also advised citizens to verify any information about ID registration or renewal through local NIRA offices, district headquarters, or its verified social media platforms.
Meanwhile, Olama revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has extended the ongoing mass enrollment and national ID validation exercise.
The extension comes after long queues and an overwhelming influx of late applicants were reported at registration centers across the country.
“The government has decided to extend the ongoing mass enrollment and ID validation exercise,” Olama said. “Details of the new schedule will be communicated soon.”
The mass enrollment program is part of the broader government effort to clean up and update the National Identification Register, ensuring every Ugandan citizen and legal resident is properly captured for national planning and digital service delivery.
NIRA’s leadership has also reminded citizens that registration teams are deployed across all districts and sub-counties to ease access to services, and there is no need to seek assistance from unverified third parties.
The Uganda Police Force has appealed to anyone who has fallen victim to the fraudulent “Ug Finder” website to report immediately to the nearest police station and provide evidence of the transaction.
Police sources indicate that digital forensic experts are working with UCC to trace the IP addresses and payment channels used by the fraudsters, with early findings suggesting the scam may involve a cross-border network of cybercriminals.
The incident underscores a growing wave of online fraud targeting government programs, with scammers exploiting citizens’ urgency to obtain documents such as national IDs, passports, and driving permits.
Cybercrime specialists urge the public to always confirm the authenticity of government websites by checking for the “.go.ug” domain and avoiding third-party platforms that request upfront payments.
As the investigation intensifies, both NIRA and UCC have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring digital safety and maintaining public trust in Uganda’s national identification system.
“The public must remain vigilant,” Olama concluded. “We are working closely with security agencies to ensure those behind this scam are apprehended, and citizens can safely access government services without fear of fraud.”
