BUIKWE– Police in Njeru on Tuesday arrested a National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) officer on grounds of stealing the National identification cards with the aim of selling them to the owners.
Mr. Richard Oryao, 26, NIRA Officer had come to help on the process of registering those who wanted National ids when he was caught red-handed pocketing ids and was arrested at Wakisi division headquarters with 37 ids.
Mr. Hamidu Mulopi, the Chairman of Wakisi central in Wakisi division, Njeru municipality, said that he saw Mr. Oryao pocketing the national ids at the division and he was concerned where he was taking them which prompted him to report him at the Wakisi police.
“I saw Oryao pocketing the ids at the division and I was concerned as to where he was taking them,” he said adding that “This prompted me to report him to the police.”
This comes at a time when a number of reports were made about National Id registration forms being sold in the area.
“Ever since the registration started, it was moving on smoothly until we started hearing that forms that are used for registering were being sold to people at a fee of Ugx 500. “ Mr. Mulopi said.
“We were about to conclude the activity when I saw Richard putting identification cards in his pocket which forced me go to police and they arrested him with 37 ids.”
Speaking to Ms. Hellen Butoto, the Ssezibwa region police spokesperson, she confirmed the arrest of Mr. Oryao.
She revealed that Mr. Oryao had the intentions of selling the National identification cards to the owners since he only picked those for people he knew.
“Mr. Oryao took the ids with the intention of selling them to the owners.”
“We made the arrest when the LC1 Chairperson confirmed with us seeing Mr. Oryao put the ids in his pocket,” said Ms. Butoto.
Mr. Michael Muganga, the Public Relations Assistant NIRA said: “They have been receiving information that people are selling registration forms but we had no evidence.”
He then condemned the act of NIRA officers who sell the forms to people yet they are free.
“Anybody found in the act will be arrested and charged,” he said.
By press time, Mr. Richard Oryao had been taken to Njeru court and remanded to Nyenga prison.
