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Not the father? NIRA tells men how to change birth records

Fathers who discover through DNA tests that they are not the biological parents of children registered in their names can have the parentage details on the birth records changed free of charge, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has said.

NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo made the clarification on September 9, 2026, while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).

The clarification followed concerns from legislators that many men are undergoing paternity tests but remain unaware of what to do when the results rule out fatherhood after a child has already been registered.

COSASE chairperson and Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi said an increasing number of men were conducting DNA tests on their children, with some tests confirming paternity while others ruling it out.

‘You know, when a child is born, the man is just told that this baby belongs to you and they will give the name to the newborn and a birth certificate is accordingly issued in the hospital. Now, with the technology and DNA testing, many times these children are being found not to belong to their father. But the certificate is already issued and this man’s name also appears on this certificate as a father,’ Mr Nkunyingi said.

He said there was a need to clarify how such cases should be handled, particularly where a mother retains the child’s birth certificate after a DNA test has ruled out paternity.

‘We are in a situation where we want to understand how NIRA is going to approach this, the process of changing, because sometimes the women will run away with the birth certificate after DNA is done and the law provides that either a birth certificate or a DNA result is a substantial proof on parentage,’ Mr Nkunyingi said.

He emphasised the need for a clear process to ensure that a birth certificate does not continue to be used as evidence of parentage after a DNA test has ruled out paternity.

How the records are changed

Ms Kisembo said the law already provides for correction of parentage information, citing Section 35 of the NIRA Act, which she said allows the Authority to change information in its registration records upon presentation of DNA results from an accredited laboratory.

‘Section 35 of our Act says that upon production of DNA test results to our registration offices, we can instantly change the information on the register,’ Ms Kisembo said.

She explained that NIRA first verifies the authenticity of the DNA results before making any changes.

‘When a DNA report is presented to us, we have focal persons in those laboratories. We send an email and they verify; they send back an email, verifying that they authored the report before we take a decision,’ she said.

For DNA tests conducted outside Uganda, Ms Kisembo said the results must first be verified through the Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL) before NIRA can act on them.

‘It is true, even foreign countries, there are accredited labs to do DNA. Not every lab does a DNA test,’ she said.

Ms Kisembo said the law also recognises a cultural process for establishing parentage, separate from the scientific route.

She said where parties choose to use the cultural process to change parentage particulars, both the former and biological fathers must appear before NIRA officials.

‘Section 35 says, if you want to do it culturally, the former father and the actual father must both be present at NIRA. The former father must say, ‘This is not my child,’ and the other father must say, ‘This is my child,” Ms Kisembo said.

The issue of paternity has attracted renewed public attention in Uganda following DNA tests involving people who claimed to be children of the late Kadongo Kamu musician Paul Job Kafeero, who died in 2007.

In June this year, DNA tests involving 25 people who claimed to be his children reportedly confirmed only four as his biological children.

Marriage registration concerns

The MPs also questioned NIRA over what they described as limited progress in marriage registration since the responsibility was transferred from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).

The Auditor General’s 2025 report highlighted gaps in marriage registration for the 2024/25 financial year.

For faith-based marriages, NIRA had targeted 11,292 registrations but recorded 6,716. For civil marriages, the target was 3,168, against 2,496 registrations.

For Muslim marriages, the target was 1,704, of which 1,689 were registered, while for customary marriages, the target was 2,496, but only 740 were registered.

Kira Municipality MP George Musisi attributed the low registration of marriages partly to a lack of awareness, particularly in rural areas. He urged NIRA to work with local leaders to sensitise communities about the requirement to register marriages.

‘When you mention these people who are from the sub-county, what is your relationship with them in terms of supporting them, for instance, through the popularisation in their respective sub-counties? Because for most of our people, it’s just lack of awareness,’ he said.

North-West States To Shut Illegal Health Training Schools

The Forum of Health Commissioners in the North-West has vowed to shut private health training institutions operating without meeting regulatory standards in the region.

The chairman of the forum and Jigawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdullahi Muhammad Kainuwa, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting with heads of health training institutions in Dutse.

Kainuwa said the forum was concerned about the growing number of private health training schools operating without complying with approved guidelines.

He said the forum had constituted a special committee to monitor health training institutions across the seven North-West states and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

The commissioner warned that any institution found operating without the required facilities and personnel would be shut down.

He expressed concern about schools operating without permanent premises, qualified and permanent teaching staff, functional laboratories and other essential facilities.

Kainuwa said private health training institutions were needed because government-owned schools lacked the capacity to admit all prospective students seeking places to study health-related courses.

‘However, private institutions must meet the required standards before they can be allowed to operate,’ he said.

He also warned government agencies responsible for licensing the institutions against approving schools without verifying their premises, teaching staff, laboratories, equipment and other facilities.

Kainuwa said officials who issued licences to institutions that failed to meet the requirements would face severe sanctions.

He added that any government official found to have facilitated the licensing of an unqualified institution could lose their job.

The commissioner said the move was aimed at protecting the quality of health training and ensuring that graduates entering the healthcare system had the knowledge and skills required to provide safe and effective services.

He urged operators of private health training institutions in the North-West to comply with regulatory requirements or risk closure.

Customs Busts N50m Tramadol Shipment In Kwara

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, said it has intercepted 3,396 packets of 100mg tramadol valued at N50.946 million in the state.

The consignment was intercepted along the Okuta axis during an operation driven by actionable intelligence and sustained patrols.

The Acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, disclosed this on Thursday in Il?rin.

Ogundeyi said the seizure underscored the command’s resolve to prevent Kwara from becoming a transit corridor for illicit cross-border trade.

He said the movement of controlled pharmaceutical substances through unapproved routes posed serious risks to public health and national security.

According to him, the latest operation also showed how smugglers were ‘diversifying their activities beyond conventional goods to include controlled drugs, petroleum products, foreign food items and uncustomed vehicles’.

The Tramadol seizure formed part of eight major interceptions recorded across different operational corridors of the command, with a combined Duty Paid Value of N604.33 million.

Other seizures included 6,705 cartons of foreign spaghetti valued at N201.15 million, 270 bags of foreign parboiled rice worth N25.245 million and 6,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit valued at N2.75 million.

Customs also intercepted a 2025 Toyota Highlander with a DPV of N214 million and a 2018 Dodge Charger SXT valued at N77.59 million, alongside used clothing and 14 bags of Basmati rice.

Ogundeyi, who assumed duty on December 17, 2025, said the enforcement of cross-border trade laws should not be interpreted as opposition to food availability or legitimate commerce.

Jinja hospital overwhelmed by unclaimed bodies

Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is struggling with limited mortuary space as unclaimed bodies collected by police from across the city and neighbouring areas remain at the facility for weeks, with some staying for up to two months or longer.

The hospital has capacity to store 18 bodies, but Dr Alfred Yayi, the Senior Executive Consultant, said the absence of a city mortuary and burial ground has worsened the situation.

The mortuary has three old refrigerators with capacity for nine bodies and three new ones donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), also holding nine bodies.

‘All the unclaimed bodies that are collected by police from around the city are normally brought and dumped here in our mortuary,’ Dr Yayi said.

He said some bodies remain at the hospital for months because the city has to seek permission from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to bury them at the existing cemetery, which belongs to the army.

‘This process of getting clearance from UPDF means you find somebody staying here for up to two months and more,’ he said.

Dr Yayi said the hospital receives between five and 10 unclaimed bodies a month, depending on the season, and their prolonged stay occupies space needed for other bodies.

The hospital has engaged the city mayor, city clerk and city health officer to seek a lasting solution, including establishing a city mortuary and cemetery.

In the meantime, Dr Yayi said the city should support the hospital with human resources and ensure unclaimed bodies are removed as soon as possible.

Assistant City Clerk Mr John Choli Goloba acknowledged the challenge, saying Jinja is among the municipalities without a city mortuary and cemetery.

He said unclaimed bodies recovered by police are supposed to be handled through a city mortuary, but Jinja lacks the facility.

‘The process should be that we should have a mortuary and a city cemetery, which we access freely,’ Mr Goloba said.

Mr Goloba said acquiring land for a cemetery requires substantial funding and must go through the city budgeting process.

He proposed that, in the meantime, the city and hospital agree on a timeframe for keeping unclaimed bodies at the facility to prevent them from occupying the limited space for prolonged periods.

Jinja City Mayor Mr Abdulhafidh Nagaya said the city is working on an interim solution while pushing for a bigger mortuary. He said the hospital serves a wide area beyond Jinja, including parts of Mayuge, Buikwe, Kamuli, Buyende, Luuka, Kaliro, Bugiri and Iganga, as well as island communities.

‘We need a bigger, new city mortuary to be able to handle this big disaster that we are always getting,’ Mr Nagaya said.

He appealed to the government and Ministry of Health to support the city in establishing a modern mortuary.

The mayor also said the city plans to construct a small structure to provide office space for mortuary staff, who currently work in difficult conditions.

He said new refrigerators installed at the facility were placed in the staff member’s office because there was no alternative space.

‘We are looking here and there to see that we can put a small structure whereby these workers from that section can have somewhere to be when they are executing their duties,’ he said, adding that they would continue working with the hospital and government to find a permanent solution to the mortuary crisis.

Manchester United, Bayern Munich Begin UCL Season With Easy Wins

Manchester United and Bayern Munich both treated their fans to straightforward victories in their UEFA Champions League openers at home.

The Red Devils thrashed UCL debutants FC Sabah 4-0 while Bayern Munich produced a goal-laden second half to seal a 5-0 win over ten-man Bodo/Glimt.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United ensured there was no chance of an upset with three first half goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Benjamin Sesko, while Lisandro Martinez added the fourth goal in the second period.

Cunha produced a first-time finish from Patrick Dorgu’s cross for the opener on 27 minutes, captain Fernandes expertly finished Youri Tielemans’ pass on 42 minutes, and Sesko rounded the goalkeeper for the third goal on the stroke of halftime.

Martinez completed the rout on 68 minutes to celebrate a big win on a night the club reached a historic 300 European Cup/champions league matches.

Bayern Munich went a step further with a 5-0 victory, all goals coming in the second half. Jamal Musiala broke the deadlock two minutes into the half, with Harry Kane doubling the lead with a header. Alphonse Davies added an excellent third, and Michael Olise chipped in a brace to seal the five-star performance.

It was a historic night for Como who thrashed RB Leipzig 4-1 in their first ever match in an European competition. The UCL debutants scored two goals in each half to stun their German opponents, and make history as the most-dominant debut scoreline by an Italian club in the Champions League era.

Group Faults Gov’ship Candidate Over Criticism Of Sokoto Govt

The Sokoto Youth Emancipation Front (SYEF) has faulted the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya, over his criticism of the state government’s handling of the civil service.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Sokoto, leader of the group, Comrade Hamisu Sani, urged Dan’Iya to distinguish between constructive criticism and what he described as politically motivated criticism of government policies.

Dan’Iya had criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration over what he described as the continued retention of some retired civil servants in active positions.

He alleged that extensions granted to some retired officials were affecting career progression and limiting opportunities for younger civil servants, including teachers, headmasters, principals and Permanent Secretaries.

Reacting, Sani said the group was surprised that Dan’Iya, a former official of the administration of former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, would criticise aspects of the civil service structure under Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration.

He questioned why Dan’Iya, having served under the previous administration, was only now raising concerns about the state civil service.

Sani said the group supported constructive criticism capable of improving governance but urged political actors to support their claims with facts and evidence.

He also called on Dan’Iya to provide verifiable evidence for the concerns he raised and engage the government constructively on issues affecting workers and residents of the state.

Atlanta 1996 Heroes Reunite For Novelty Match Nov 8

The 1996 Olympic gold medalists are set to reunite for a novelty match tagged ‘Legend Football Match,’ which is one of the lined-up activities celebrating their historic triumph in Atlanta, where they became the first African nation to win Olympic gold in men’s football.

Guided by Dutchman Jo Bonfrère, the squad stunned the world by defeating football giants Brazil in the semi-final and Argentina in the final, rewriting history and elevating Nigeria’s global football reputation.

The match is scheduled for November 8, 2026, at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, during the CANEX WKND 2026. It is organised by Afreximbank in partnership with TopTier Sports Management.

Temwa Gondwe, Director of Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank, described the 1996 squad as ‘an epitome of resilience,’ noting that their story continues to inspire new generations.

‘The 1996 Super Eagles did more than win Olympic gold; they re-wrote the global narrative, proving to the world that African talent is an unstoppable force. Today, the intersection of sports, entertainment, and culture is the heartbeat of Africa’s creative economy,’ he said.

Gondwe added that the Legends Game is not only a celebration of past glory but also a strategic platform to discuss the future commercialisation and empowerment of African athletes and creatives worldwide.

Chichi Nwoko, founder and CEO of TopTier Sports Management and What Media Group, praised the dedication of the squad, explaining that the novelty match was organised to honour their efforts.

’FCT Natives Need Concrete Laws For Protection’

The Accord senatorial candidate in the FCT in 2027 election, Comrade Ezikel Musa Dalhatu said he would initiative a bill with the support of his colleagues at the Senate to ensure there law will protect both the indigenous and residents of the territory.

Dalhatu, who was speaking during the party’s affirmation stakeholders meeting in Abuja, said there has never been any concrete law protecting the indigenous people and residents of the FCT over 50 years.

He said it is frustrating to see that the natives’ houses are being demolished while their ancestral lands are taken away, thereby displacing them without any proper alternative or compensation by the government.

‘For the past 50 years, there has been no concrete law protecting the indigenous people and other residents of FCT. And let me tell you for free, if you protect the indigenous communities, you are also protecting the residents because they live together with the natives,’ he said.

He said he will initiate youth and women empowerment across the six area councils of the FCT, which he said would be targeted mostly at the vulnerable residents, adding that skills acquisition would also be prioritised to enhance self-reliance.

According to him, the primary education sector across the FCT would also be revamped in order to put an end to where pupils sit on the bare floor to learn inside dilapidated classrooms.

He said his desire to contest for the FCT senate seat is not to come and fight anybody but to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in order to provide dividends of democracy to the people of the territory.

Hajj: Don’t Register Pilgrims With Acute Illnesses, NAHCON Warns States

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has warned state governments against registering intending pilgrims with acute health conditions for the 2027 Hajj, following the introduction of stricter medical requirements by Saudi Arabia.

The commission said only pilgrims who meet the prescribed medical standards would be allowed to participate in next year’s pilgrimage.

The Commissioner representing the North-East in NAHCON, Alhaji Abba Jatau, disclosed this when he led a delegation of the commission to the Yobe State Government House in Damaturu.

Jatau urged the Yobe State Government and its pilgrims commission to ensure that intending pilgrims undergo the required medical checks before registration.

He said the new health requirements were part of measures by the Saudi authorities to safeguard pilgrims and protect Nigeria’s image in the Kingdom.

The commissioner also disclosed that states were expected to provide 1.5 doctors and 1.7 nurses for every 1,000 pilgrims, urging Yobe to comply with the requirement and make adequate medical preparations.

Jatau further warned that September 26, 2026, had been fixed as the deadline for uploading pilgrims’ information and passports for the 2027 Hajj.

He urged the state government to prioritise early registration, documentation and payment to ensure that its pilgrims were not left out.

He said visa issuance for the 2027 Hajj would commence on January 28, 2027.

On wider reforms to Hajj operations, Jatau said NAHCON had secured a three-year transition period for Nigeria to move from the traditional government-to-government arrangement to a business-to-business model.

He said the transition would begin with the 2027 Hajj following negotiations between Nigerian authorities and the Saudi Arabian government, which had initially proposed an immediate migration to the new system.

According to him, Saudi Arabia had introduced ‘radical reforms’ aimed at transferring several aspects of Hajj management from government institutions to business operators.

He said the Saudi authorities were seeking about 98 per cent migration from government-to-government to business-to-business operations.

Jatau said NAHCON resisted the immediate implementation of the new arrangement because of the peculiar challenges facing Nigerian pilgrims and engaged the Saudi authorities to secure enough time for Nigeria to adjust.

He said Yobe had been proposed as a pilot state for the new arrangement, expressing confidence that the state could successfully demonstrate the model before its wider adoption.

The commissioner appealed to the state government to direct the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission to give priority to registration, documentation and payment ahead of the September deadline.

Responding, Deputy Governor Idi Barde Gubana said Yobe was the first state in the Maiduguri Hajj zone to complete the airlift of its pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj.

Gubana attributed the achievement to the commitment of the state government, the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission, religious leaders, officials and other stakeholders to the welfare and orderly conduct of pilgrims.

He assured the NAHCON delegation of the state government’s continued support for the commission and its commitment to strengthening the operations and institutional capacity of the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission.

Phones banned at Karuziika Palace as King Oyo’s burial nears

Mourners and journalists arriving at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal City on Friday were barred from entering the palace grounds with mobile phones as security was tightened ahead of the burial of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on Saturday.

The phone ban was initially imposed inside the palace on people who had gone to view the King’s body. However, by Friday morning, security personnel at the main entrance were directing mourners to surrender their phones before being allowed into the palace grounds.

The directive came as security agencies intensified checks at the palace ahead of the conclusion of the nine-day mourning period and the King’s burial scheduled for Saturday at the Karambi Royal Tombs.

Earlier on Friday, the Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba visited the palace. Shortly after, mourners who had gathered inside were asked to temporarily leave as security teams conducted checks.

Sniffer dogs were deployed to search different sections of the palace grounds while security officers inspected the area.

At about 9am, mourners were asked to leave the palace and return about 45 minutes later after the security operation.

When they returned, security checks at the main entrance had been intensified, with mourners required to surrender their mobile phones before proceeding into the palace.

A team of scouts was deployed at the checkpoint to register the names of mourners and details of the phones surrendered. Each person was issued a paper bearing their details, which they were required to present when collecting their phone upon leaving the palace.

The same directive was communicated to journalists covering the funeral activities. However, they argued that the devices were essential for communication and filing stories.

Security tightened

Security was also heightened along roads leading to Karuziika Palace and St John’s Cathedral, with armed security personnel deployed at strategic points.

The heightened security comes as Tooro enters the final hours of public mourning for King Oyo, whose death has brought thousands of subjects, cultural and religious leaders and government officials to the kingdom to pay their final respects.

Speeches and tributes are expected during the vigil on Friday as the kingdom prepares for the burial on Saturday.

Burial programme

According to Mr Richard Rwabuhinga, co-chairperson of the burial organising committee, preparations for the final rites have been completed.

Speaking to journalists earlier this week, Mr Rwabuhinga said the burial programme would begin at 8am on Saturday when the body leaves Karuziika Palace for St John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal City.

The church service is scheduled to begin at 9am and will be presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stephen Kaziimba Magula alongside other clergy.

According to the programme, only four speeches will be delivered during the church service. The speakers will include Princess Ruth Komuntale, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, Omujwera Musuuga Charles Kamurasi and a representative of the government.

After the speeches, the body will be transported to the Karambi Royal Tombs, about six kilometres from Karuziika Palace, where King Oyo will be laid to rest.