KAMPALA, UGANDA – Uganda is set to receive nearly 5,700 biometric kits in the coming weeks, paving the way for a massive national ID registration and renewal campaign.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) announced that 4,668 kits will arrive between November 24 and December 17, with an additional 997 kits scheduled to arrive on January 12, 2025.
The campaign, delayed multiple times due to technical and financial constraints, aims to enroll 17.2 million new individuals and renew 15.8 million ID cards, with 3.4 million expiring between August 2024 and January 2025.
This effort is part of an August 2022 Cabinet decision, allocating 666.85 billion Ugandan Shillings (approximately $181 million) for the project.
To prepare, NIRA has partnered with Saudi IT firm Tahaluf and is upgrading its National Information Security System (NSIS), including new software, hardware, and equipment for a data center and ID card printing machines.
Key activities leading up to the campaign include upgrading card printing equipment, installing and configuring a new data center, implementing PKI and hardware security modules, and training NIRA staff on new equipment.
Meanwhile, NIRA has launched a 53-day ID enrollment drive to meet the Electoral Commission’s November 30 deadline for eligible voter lists. Registration centers are set up in schools, places of worship, and markets, with registrants required to be 16 years or older.
Ugandan authorities assure that all citizens will be reached and served, emphasizing the importance of accurate information to maintain the integrity of the National Identification Register.
This campaign marks a significant step in enhancing Uganda’s national identification system.
