Museveni Directs Attorney General To Make A Law Stopping Money Lenders To Use National IDs As Loan Security

President Yoweri Museveni who is also the Chairman of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party has directed Attorney General Kirwowa Kiwanuka to draft a law that will prohibit money lenders and any other financial institutions from using National Identification Cards (IDs) as collateral for loans.

This directive is a result of the party secretariat reporting back on the registration process that took place between the 13th and 17th of March to the president and NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members by the Secretary-General Rt Hon Richard Twodong during a meeting at State House Entebbe.

The report indicated various concerns during the registration and updating of the NRM register such as the illegal practice of money lenders confiscating National Identification Cards from Ugandans as collateral security for the loan extended to them.

In response to the report, President Museveni emphasized the need to protect citizens' rights thereby directing the Attorney general to expedite the process of enactment of laws to protect individuals from misuse of their national IDs and passports as loan collateral.

''There were some gaps in the process, such as the criminality of money lenders who take away national Identity Cards from Ugandans and the limited involvement of NRM village chairpersons and we have resolved to address those, through legislation if necessary and return to the people at an appropriate time''. The President said

''Despite these gaps, a large membership of up to 18.3m has been reported and I think it is a good start to this ongoing process. I thank NRM members for responding to the program''. He added