The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) of Uganda has announced that more than 9.1 million Ugandans have registered for the ongoing mass renewal and registration of National Identity Cards.
Providing an update on the campaign’s progress this week, NIRA Registrar Claire Ollama said the exercise has gained significant momentum over the last two months.
“We’ve recorded 9.1 million registrations in just two months. Among these, 8 million are renewals, 800,000 are new applicants, and the remainder are individuals who previously held National Identification Numbers (NINs) but are receiving their first physical ID cards,” Ollama stated.
She also highlighted the significant increase in child registration during the same period, with 800,000 children newly enrolled in the national identity system.
“This shows that more parents are beginning to recognize the importance of giving their children a unique and verifiable identity. If your child is not yet registered, you’re doing them a disservice,” Ollama urged, calling on parents and guardians to prioritize child registration.
Although over 100,000 new ID cards have already been printed, NIRA clarified that card distribution has not yet begun.
Uganda first introduced its national ID program between 2014 and 2015, with each card valid for 10 years. This means most of the initial batch of cards is expiring between 2024 and 2025. However, the government has granted a one-year extension to allow for a smoother renewal process.
NIRA estimates that a total of 15.8 million National ID cards will expire by August 2025.
In addition to renewals, the mass registration campaign also features upgraded security features designed to improve identity verification and better protect citizens’ personal data.
NIRA’s Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo, recently shared that out of Uganda’s estimated 45.9 million population (based on the 2024 census), only 27.4 million people are currently registered in the national identity database—underscoring the importance of expanding coverage.
