Students advocate for youth National ID registration

Ugandan secondary school students passionately debated and advocated for greater youth participation in the upcoming national ID registration drive during a recent debate in Kampala.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Secondary school students across Uganda passionately debated the critical need for youth participation in the upcoming national identification registration drive during a two-day competition in Kampala.

The 2025 NIRA Schools Debate, which concluded Monday at Kitante Hill School, saw students from over 20 institutions, including Nyakasura School and Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School, engage in spirited discussions centered on the National Identification and Registration Authority’s (NIRA) mass enrollment campaign set to begin May 27.

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Debate motions challenged students to consider issues directly impacting youth registration, such as school admission policies for unregistered students and the cost of replacing lost national IDs. Their articulate arguments underscored a strong awareness of civic responsibility and the importance of national identification for accessing essential services.

Rosemary Kisembo, NIRA’s Executive Director, directly addressed the students, emphasizing the urgency of their involvement. “With 18.2 million Ugandans, most of them under the age of 17, still unregistered, this is a call for the youths to be visible, vocal, and valid,” she stated. “A National Identification Number (NIN) is a gateway to education, healthcare, employment, and full participation in our nation’s growth. We urge every young person, parent, and guardian to take this exercise seriously as we prepare for this historic enrollment.”

Internal Affairs State Minister Gen. David Muhoozi echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the students’ role as catalysts for change. “The energy and insight displayed by these young debaters prove that Uganda’s youth are not just future leaders—they are active change-makers today,” he said. He further emphasized the government’s reliance on students to promote the upcoming registration drive, which aims to register 17.2 million new applicants and renew 15.8 million expired IDs.

The debate also highlighted the significant gap in child registration, with only 5.2 million Ugandans aged 0-17 currently registered. NIRA has invested in over 5,600 biometric registration kits and high-capacity card printing machines to facilitate a smoother process.

A participant at the NIRA Schools Debate makes a point about youth participation in the national ID enrollment process. The debate aimed to raise awareness and encourage registration.

Organized by NIRA in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports and Debate Society Uganda, the event strategically integrated civic education, emphasizing the lifelong importance of national identification.

Mbale Secondary School emerged as the overall winner of the debate.

Participating schools: Abim Secondary School (ABIM), Bukedea Comprehensive School (BUKEDEA), Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School (BUSHENYI), Kitante Hill SS (WAKISO), Mbale Secondary School (MBALE), Muni Girls Secondary School (ARUA CITY), Nyakasura School (KABAROLE), Ocer Campion Jesuit College (GULU), Sebei College (KAPCHORWA), St. Henry’s College Kitovu (MASAKA).