Gov’t Targets to Issue 32 Million IDs by January 2025

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has declared that Ugandan citizens will no longer need to pay a 50,000 Shillings requisite charge for the renewal of their National Identity Cards. The charge will only be maintained for those seeking express services.

State Minister for Internal Affairs Gen. David Muhoozi announced this in response to an outcry from Members of Parliament over the delayed process for ID renewals and issuance of new ones by the National Identification and Registration Authority – NIRA.

The government seeks to renew over 15 million IDs and issue more than 17 million new ones by January 2025. But Kwania County MP Tonny Ayoo is concerned over the lengthy process citizens go through to have their IDs renewed or replaced blaming it on dilapidated computers, systems, and perhaps applications to provide for express ID.

Joyce Acan, a representative of persons with Disabilities raised concern that some of her constituents were denied IDS because they could not provide fingerprints during the bio-metric data capture processes.

Equally, the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa was agitated that despite Parliament appropriating 300 billion Shillings for the purpose, no funds had been disbursed to NIRA by the Ministry of Finance, impeding recruitment of workers, and requisite procurement.

However, Gen. Muhoozi, echoed that despite the delays, the Ministry had already initiated the procurement process for ICT equipment, and training of staff in the ongoing new National Security Information System in India.

According to the Minister, plans have already been devised for NIRA to traverse hard-to-reach districts, noting that crucial equipment such as standby 5KV generators and solar panels will be provided to counter power blackouts.

Muhoozi also explained that the mass enrollment to register or renew the expired IDs will commence in June 2024. While chairing a plenary sitting on Tuesday, Tayebwa implored the Ministry to move faster with the renewal and issuance of the IDs if they are to achieve the ambitious target.

The government introduced the national IDs in 2014 and 2015 before the 2016 polls with a 10-year validity. This implies that the IDs will expire in August 2024 and June 2025.

The national IDs are paramount as the unifying identifier. They provide proof of legal identity that is often required for or simplifies the process of accessing basic rights, government services, opportunities, and protections.