The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) is yet to announce the dates for a mass registration exercise for new national identity cards. According to NIRA’s Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo, the Authority cannot proceed with setting a registration start date until it receives the necessary equipment for the process.
To address the significant number of unregistered citizens, NIRA had initially planned a two-month mass registration exercise starting in early June of this year. However, this plan was delayed due to logistical challenges.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Center, Kisembo revealed that preparatory activities for the project began on July 29th. She highlighted several critical components required for the registration process, including the arrival of a data center, registration kits, card printing equipment, blank cards, and the completion of system customization.
The urgency of the registration is underscored by NIRA’s obligation to submit the national register to the Electoral Commission by November 30, 2024. The Electoral Commission has already outlined the electoral roadmap, which includes key dates for the display of the voter register. Kisembo emphasized that anyone who wishes to participate in the 2026 electoral process must be registered in the upcoming exercise.
Kisembo also urged those who have not yet registered or are just turning 18 to obtain their national ID now, even before the new registration process begins. She encouraged parents to register their children early, well before birth certificates are required by schools, as a way to streamline NIRA’s current operations.
Under Ugandan law, every citizen is entitled to a national identification number, regardless of age. However, the physical ID card is only issued to individuals aged 16 and above. Kisembo recommended that the ideal time for registration is within the first month after birth, with a maximum delay of one year.
Kisembo disclosed that currently, only 27.4 million Ugandans are registered in the national registry. This is in contrast to the recent housing and population census, which estimates the country’s population at 45.9 million people.