Govt sets May 27 to start mass ID registration, renewal
NIRA staff conducting national ID registration and replacement in Kampala on September 9, 2022. PHOTO/ FILE/ COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The entire exercise will cost the government at least Shs666.85 billion, whereby Shs183 billion will be used to purchase new IDs, Shs293 billion for technology, purchasing data centres, and kits, while Shs190.85 billion will be used to pay the 13,864 workers.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced that it will officially start the national identity cards (ID) mass enrolment and renewal exercise on May 27, 2025 and that the exercise will run for about six to 10 months in all districts in Uganda.
According to NIRA executive director, Ms Rosemary Kisembo about 15.8 million ID cards that are expiring in June 2025 will be renewed while 17.2 million new IDs will be issued to citizens who missed out in the first registration exercise for different reasons.
“We exercise will be conducted at a parish level, running from Monday to Saturday every week. There will be a minimum of 10 kits at each parish on the day of registration depending on the circumstances determined by the district,” Ms Kisembo said.
According to her, Ugandans are required to present themselves at the registration points with the required documents for service.
“I implore Ugandans to mobilise others – travellers and children – not to miss this important exercise,” she said.
Ms Kisembo reiterated that the process of enrolment and renewal is free of charge. However, Ugandans who want to change particulars on their IDs will be charged Shs200, 000 for the changes.
“All people who would want to change their particulars, like change of names and other corrections, will be required to pay Shs200,000. If the corrections of the ID are a result of NIRA mistakes, it will be free of charge, but people should not use it as an advantage to claim that NIRA made mistakes on their IDs. We have all the data,” she warned.
The entire exercise will cost the government at least Shs666.85 billion, whereby Shs183 billion will be used to purchase new IDs, Shs293 billion for technology, purchasing data centres, and kits, while Shs190.85 billion will be used to pay the 13,864 workers.
“NIRA received 5,665 kits, and we have distributed 5,300 kits. We have kept 365 kits for emergency responses. We have distributed kits according to population, where districts with high populations will receive more kits. We are telling the general public that the time is now; let us all get involved in the exercise,” she added.
Delayed national ID renewal has been a sticky issue for some time now, as many Ugandans stuck with expired IDs have been waiting for an opportunity to renew their citizenship.
