The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is set to roll out a nationwide Mass Enrolment and Renewal Exercise for National Identity Cards beginning May 27th, 2025, following the successful launch of a pilot phase earlier this month.
The exercise will see the deployment of NIRA teams at parish level in all 146 districts of Uganda to facilitate the renewal of expired IDs and the registration of unregistered citizens, in what is being described as the largest identification campaign since the initial mass registration in 2014.
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The pilot phase, which runs from May 2nd to May 26th, began with the renewal of IDs for the NIRA Board of Directors and top officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Gen. David Muhoozi, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, while officiating the launch, called the exercise a milestone in Uganda’s efforts to strengthen identity and access to services.
“This pilot marks the beginning of one of the most important citizen exercises in our country’s recent history. It is not just about renewing cards; it’s about reaffirming identity, inclusion, and access to government services,” said Gen. Muhoozi.
The Mass Enrolment and Renewal Exercise follows Cabinet’s 2022 approval to renew 15.8 million ID cards expiring by June 2025 and to register 17.2 million previously unregistered Ugandans.
To support the rollout, NIRA partnered with Tahaluf Al Emarat Technical Solutions, which has delivered vital infrastructure including:
5,665 biometric registration kits distributed countrywide, Two laser card printers with a capacity of 100,000 cards per day, Modern data center hardware, and a new National Security Information System built on MOSIP, enabling iris biometric capture and integrating birth and death registration for the first time.
“For the first time, citizens will be able to pre-register online, and our new system ensures tighter data security, improved service delivery, and stronger integration with other government systems,” Gen. Muhoozi explained.
During the mass exercise, renewal and new registration services will be free of charge, while replacement of lost cards (UGX 50,000) and change of particulars (UGX 200,000) will attract fees and be handled at district offices only.
“We urge all Ugandans to take advantage of this opportunity. Come prepared with the right documents and support the process. This is not just an administrative exercise, but a national duty,” Gen. Muhoozi emphasized.
Applicants are encouraged to visit www.nira.go.ug for full requirements, including documents needed for children, adults, and those replacing lost IDs. Cards will be issued within four weeks of successful application during the initial phase.
