Uganda: Requirements and procedures for an adult to obtain a certified copy of their birth certificate, including from abroad and whether it can be obtained by a third party; information on the appearance of the certificate, including security features; information on incidents of fraudulent certificates (2015-August 2017)
For information on the requirements and procedures for obtaining an original birth certificate, including from abroad and through a third party, as well as the appearance and security features of birth certificates, see Response to Information Request UGA105807 of June 2017.
Information on obtaining a certified copy of a birth certificate and on the appearance of certified copies of birth certificates was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. On its website, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), which is responsible for the creation, the management and the operation of the National Identification Register (Uganda n.d.a), notes that the fee to obtain a "Certified Copy of an Entry in the Register" is 1,000 Ugandan shillings [C$0.35] and to obtain a "Certificate of Birth", the fee is 5,000 UGX [C$1.75] (Uganda n.d.b). A copy of Form 15 "Application for a Certified Copy of Entry in the Register of Birth and Death," as provided on the NIRA website, is attached to this response.
On its website, the Uganda High Commission in Ottawa states that "[a]pplications and authentication of birth certificates is not handled by the Ottawa Mission" and provides a link to the NIRA website (Uganda n.d.c.). Information on whether applications for birth certificates or their authentication can be done at other Ugandan missions could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Information on fraudulent birth certificates or certified copies of birth certificates could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Uganda. N.d.a. National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). "Message from the ED." [Accessed 2 Aug. 2017]
Uganda. N.d.b. National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). "Fees." [Accessed 2 Aug. 2017]
Uganda. N.d.c. High Commission in Ottawa. "Birth certificates." [Accessed 2 Aug. 2017]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Five lawyers specializing in family law in Kampala; Uganda – National Identity and Registration Authority, Uganda Police Force.
Internet sites, including: Acholi Times; Australia – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Capital FM; Daily Monitor; Deustche Welle; ecoi.net; Factiva; INTERPOL; Jeune Afrique; New Vision; Norway – LandInfo; The Observer; Radio One; Radio Wa; Switzerland – Swiss Refugee Council; TV West; Uganda – Embassy in London, Embassy in Washington D.C., National Identity and Registration Authority; Police Force; Uganda Radio Network; United Nations – Refworld; Voice of America.
Attachment
Uganda. N.d. "Form 15. Application for a Certified Copy of Entry in the Register of Birth and Death." [Accessed 2 Aug. 2017]