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Civil Registration System
Uganda
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Uganda
Civil Registration System
National Civil Registration Agency
National Civil Registration Agency
National Level Agency
Does the law designate a national level agency responsible for civil registration?
Yes. National Identification and Registration Authority.
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The law should clearly establish an agency with responsibility for managing the civil registration system. The structure of the civil registration system varies across countries. Some countreis have a centralized system (controlled at the central government level). Others have a decentralised system (controlled at the sub-national government level). Often, control of the system is shared between the national government and subnational governments. However, even in a fully decentralized system, there should be an agency at the national level to enforce minimum standards or to work cooperatively with decentralized jurisdictions and offices to ensure generally uniform practices and procedures.
The National Identification and Registration Authority is responsible for civil registration. It is governed by a Board appointed by the Minister responsible for internal affairs and an Executive Director appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Board. It is set up as a body corporate and it can receive appropriations directly from Parliament. However, the law gives the Minister authority to give written policy directions to the Authority which it must follow.
Powers and Responsibilities of National Civil Registration Agency
Does the law provide for a uniform process to complete civil registrations across the country?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
To improve registration of vital events, legislation should provide for standardized and consistent processes for the notification of vital events throughout a country's jurisdiction.
Uniform procedures for birth and death registration throughout the country are set out in the Registration of Persons Act and its accompanying regulations. All registration centers report to the National Identification and Registration Authority.
Does the law estabish the head of the national civil registration agency? If yes, does the law grant sufficient powers to that person to effectively and efficiently implement the system?
Yes. Executive Director. Powers established in the law.
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The head of the civil registration agency (often called the national registrar or registrar general) should be clearly set out in the law and should have sufficient power and authority to ensure that the civil registration system functions efficiently and effectively. These powers and responsibilities should include oversight and implementation of the civil registration system; participation in drafting of rules, regulations and instructions to promote uniform practice; delegation of registration responsibilities and powers to other officials; management and inspection of registration offices; conducting quality assurance monitoring and addressing areas of concern; assessing degree of coverage and establishing boundaries for local offices; hiring, management, and training of personnel; management of physical resources and technology; resolution of incidents and appeals; promoting the registration requirements to the public; receiving and compiling data; exchanging information with other agencies; and safekeeping records and archives.
The head of the National Identification and Registration Authority is the Executive Director, who is appointed by the Minister responsible for Internal Affairs and operates under the direction of the Board of the Authority. The powers and responsibilities of the Executive Director and the Board are set out in the law in broad terms. Some supervisory powers are split between the Board and the Executive Director. For instance, the Executive Director is responsible for the organisation and control of the staff of the Authority, while the Board appoints the staff and establishes and approves rules and procedures for appointment, promotion, termination, discipline, and terms and conditions of service of the staff.
Regulations on procedures for birth and death registration are set by the Minister responsible for internal affairs. Access to information in the civil register takes place pursuant to regulations issued by the Board after consultation with the Minister, and the Board is responsible for establishing guidelines on such access. The Board is responsible for establishing procedures for adjudicating complaints, while appeals of matters not resolved by this process go the High Court.
Does the law allow the national registrar to delegate powers and responsibilities?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The volume of work in most countries may require the head of the civil registration agency to delegate powers or functions to others. The law on civil registration should clearly define who may delegate authority, which duties may be delegated and to whom. It is important that the law identify the powers of delegation for the head of an agency, and clearly identify the persons to whom the head of civil registration agency can delegate powers and responsibilities. For example, the head of an agency might be authorized to delegate duties to the deputy head of the agency or to local registrars.
The authority to delegate does not lie with the national registrar. Although the Executive Director has no powers of delegation, the law allows the Board of the Authority to delegate any of the powers, duties and functions of the Authority to the chairperson of the Board, a member of the Board, an officer of the Authority or a committee appointed by the Board. The law sets out the basic powers and duties of registration officers for the various registration areas and gives “the Authority” power to designate any person to assist a registration officer in the performance of the statutory functions.
