Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The mass enrollment and renewal of national IDs will be held at parish/ward level, the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) has said.
NIRA is currently doing the registration of persons at the district level.
Brig. Steven Kwirigira, NIRA’s Director of Operations, highlights that this shift aims to enhance accessibility to registration services, ensuring that everyone can acquire a valid national ID card with ease.
“Starting with June 2024, we are going to the parishes and rotational, from place to place to ensure that everybody is served,” Kwirigira explains during a consultative meeting with stakeholders from the Ankole region. The objective is to serve the entire population effectively.
In preparation for the upcoming mass registration and renewal of National IDs, Kwirigira announces an ambitious target of registering over 17 million individuals. Additionally, there’s a plan to renew more than 15 million cards issued in 2015. Kwirigira emphasizes the indispensability of a national ID for accessing various government services.
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Hajji Bashir Kazibwe, the City Councilor representing the elderly in Mbarara City, welcomes the decision to conduct registration at the ward level, foreseeing benefits in terms of ease of mobilization and transportation for beneficiaries.
However, he urges NIRA officials to remain vigilant against non-citizens, particularly refugees, who might attempt to obtain citizenship and identity cards through illicit means.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is gearing up for the second mass enrollment and renewal of National Identification Cards.
Osborne Mushabe, NIRA’s Head of Communications, announces that the registration for new citizens and the renewal exercise will commence on June 1, 2024, and continue until September 30, 2025.
