KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) announced Monday that more than 2.5 million Ugandans have been successfully enrolled in the ongoing mass national identification card registration and renewal exercise. The campaign officially began May 27, 2025.
Clare Olama, a registrar at NIRA, commended the public for its enthusiastic response during a press briefing at Police headquarters in Naguru.
“We want to congratulate all of us as Ugandans and as citizens of this beautiful part of Africa because we have realigned 2.5 million renewals thus far. That is very commendable,” Olama said.
She said the strong turnout demonstrates growing awareness among citizens of the crucial role the national identity card plays in accessing government services, safeguarding national security and driving socioeconomic development.
“The national ID is not just a piece of plastic. It is a critical document that determines how we live, access services and interact with the state. You cannot secure a country without properly identified citizens,” Olama emphasized.
The exercise covers renewals for expired or soon-to-expire ID cards and first-time registration for all Ugandans, including children from birth.
Olama urged first-time applicants to adequately prepare before visiting registration centers to avoid unnecessary delays.
“We are saying, in addition to the LC letter, recommendation letters and copies of parents’ ID cards, applicants must come with information about their paternal and maternal lineage,” she said.
Applicants are required to state their father’s and mother’s tribe, clan and origin. Olama said failure to provide this essential information, which is necessary for profiling and establishing legal citizenship, will result in the application being placed on hold.
“Even if you carry all the required documents, we will not be able complete your registration if you cannot tell us to which indigenous community your parents belong. This is a legal requirement that we must enforce,” she said.
Olama also raised concern about minors being sent to registration centers unaccompanied, urging parents and guardians to take full responsibility for their children’s identification process.
“A minor — anyone below 18 — cannot legally sign a declaration. They must be brought by a blood relative who can affirm their details. Don’t be selfish. Come with your entire household so that all of you can be registered,” she said.
She encouraged parents to take advantage of the pre-registration option available on smartphones, saying it allows them to input accurate information in advance, making the process faster and more efficient.
“If you cannot pre-register, it is not a crime. Come as you are, and we shall help you. But make sure you have the full details about your child’s name, birth date and location,” she added.
Issuing a stern warning against identity fraud, Olama disclosed that NIRA’s systems have flagged 10,518 applications in which individuals attempted to obtain a second identity card by posing as new applicants.
“These are people who already have an identity card or a National Identification Number (NIN) but are now trying to apply again as if they never had one. This is criminal,” she warned. “Renewal is not an opportunity to change who you are. We will not tolerate the falsification of identity or impersonation. Our systems are tight, and culprits will be dealt with according to the law.”
