Jinja South Division East MP Paul Mwiru says his bank account was frozen after officials declined to accept his newly issued national identity card without an additional verification letter, raising concerns about the planned transition.
Jinja South Division East MP Paul Mwiru has questioned the readiness of the government’s planned transition from Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) to National Identification Numbers (NINs), citing difficulties he encountered when using his newly issued national identity card for bank verification.
Mwiru raised the concern in Parliament on Tuesday, October 27, saying his bank account had been frozen pending an update to his identification details.
He told legislators that when he presented his new national identity card, bank officials declined to accept it as sufficient proof of identity and instead demanded a separate verification letter.
The legislator questioned how the government intended to implement the TIN-to-NIN transition when citizens were already encountering difficulties using national identity cards issued by the relevant authorities.
The planned change is intended to use NINs issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) as tax identifiers, potentially reducing the need for taxpayers to maintain separate identification numbers for different government services.
However, Mwiru’s experience raises questions about how banks verify newly issued identity cards and whether institutions have clear procedures for handling changes to customers’ identification details.
For customers whose accounts are restricted pending verification, such requirements can delay access to financial services. Mwiru’s account also points to the importance of coordination between NIRA, the tax authorities and financial institutions as the government moves to integrate identification systems.
Clear guidance on acceptable identification documents and any additional verification requirements will be important to ensure the transition does not create unnecessary administrative hurdles for taxpayers and other citizens.