On March 26, 2025, HEPS-Uganda, with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), convened a journalist workshop in Kampala. The event brought together 30 journalists from some of Uganda’s leading media houses to build their capacity to report on civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS).
The workshop marked a pivotal moment in Uganda’s efforts to raise the profile of CRVS as a public policy issue. Despite being a cornerstone for planning, service delivery, and citizen rights, CRVS has long remained in the shadows of public discourse.
“CRVS is not just a government formality—it’s about identity, dignity, access, and national development,” William Kidega, GHAI In-Country Coordinator on Data for Health said in his opening remarks to participants.
Why CRVS Matters—and Why Media Must Lead the Charge
Civil registration refers to the official, continuous recording of vital life events—births, deaths, marriages and divorces—by the state. These records provide vital statistics for legal identity, social protection and national planning. Yet, according to the 2024 Uganda National Census, only 11.4 percent of Ugandans possess a birth certificate. Among children under five, only 10.3 percent are fully registered—a staggering figure that points to systemic gaps in legal identity for the youngest members of society.
Death registration fares no better. Just 20 percent of deaths are registered in Uganda, and only about 2 percent come with a medically certified cause of death—undermining public health responses and crisis planning.
“This issue is not unique to Uganda,” Dr. Mwanga stated. “Many countries, especially those with large rural populations, face similar challenges in registering vital events. However, it is critical to address these gaps to ensure every citizen is counted and recognized.”
Robert Offiti, Regional Director of HEPS- Uganda, cautioned that the absence of proper documentation can have long-term consequences on governance, public health and human rights—a theme that resonated throughout the workshop and underscored these concerns by pointing to systemic underfunding.
“NIRA (the National Identification and Registration Authority) lacks the financial support needed to streamline the process, and there is little collaboration between hospitals and the registration authority,” Offiti explained. “This has resulted in a breakdown of the system, leaving many children and families without legal recognition.”
Offiti noted that while hospitals receive birth records daily, insufficient resources and limited inter-agency coordination hinder the effective collection and processing of this critical data (Read more here).
Human Stories That Drive Change
The workshop wasn’t just technical—it was deeply human. Journalists listened to moving testimonies from individuals impacted by CRVS gaps. One such story came from Nanfuka Kate, a mother whose children are unable to transfer to better schools because they lack birth certificates. Her own challenges obtaining a national ID—required for the certificate application—have trapped her family in bureaucratic limbo.
Such stories underscore why CRVS matters beyond policy papers. Without proper registration, access to education, healthcare, land rights, inheritance, and even protection from exploitation can be severely limited.
From Information to Action: Equipping the Media
Journalists received a CRVS information brief tailored for Uganda, complete with definitions, legal frameworks, and the latest statistics. Interactive sessions allowed them to engage with technical experts and community voices, strengthening their ability to translate data into compelling public interest stories.
The resulting discussions didn’t end in the training room. A televised talk show on Digitalk TV’s The Mighty Drive soon followed, where panelists explored the depth of Uganda’s CRVS challenges and opportunities. The show's producers acknowledged that CRVS had been a grey area with limited public understanding and pledged to provide more visibility on the issue going forward.
“We cannot expect strong CRVS outcomes when the system is consistently underfunded, under-resourced and under-prioritized,” said Alor Steven, a public finance expert who has worked with the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG).
Charting the Way Forward
The workshop and resulting media coverage help raise awareness on CRVS as a value proposition in Uganda’s national dialogue. The issues are many: underfunded registration offices, geographical inaccessibility, outdated laws, and limited inter-agency coordination. But so are the opportunities.
Technological innovations like mobile registration units, health facility integration, and digitized services can dramatically improve access. Public awareness campaigns—particularly those led by credible media voices—can demystify CRVS and normalize the act of registering births and deaths.
GHAI and HEPS-Uganda recognize that while mass registration campaigns are necessary, they are no substitute for strong, routine CRVS systems. Alor Steven added, “Is it not important to ask whether investing in continuous CRVS services the way we invest in ID drives, could save costs in the long term—Read more here.”
A Call to Action
As CRVS takes its rightful place on Uganda’s development agenda, the media will remain a vital stakeholder in ensuring every Ugandan is counted, protected, and recognized.
We urge citizens to register vital events in their families—and ask their leaders tough questions about CRVS services in their districts. We invite journalists to go beyond the headlines and tell human stories that will move hearts and shift policy.
GHAI is proud to stand with Ugandan journalists, civil society, and technical partners in the journey toward a more inclusive, data-informed future.
Because when every life is counted, it is clear that every life counts.
