Ugandans, along with citizens from Kenya and Rwanda can use their National Identity Cards (IDs) for cross-border travel, facilitating easier movement within the region. This followed an agreement signed between the three countries.
However, many Ugandans are facing difficulties as a significant number of their IDs expired this year.
As a result, other member states are treating these national IDs as invalid documents, preventing Ugandans from crossing at various border points.
The government, through the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), had plans for a large-scale rollout and renewal of expired IDs at the start of 2024, but this initiative has yet to be implemented.
The initial issuance of national IDs began in 2014, with a validity period of ten years, which has now lapsed, leaving around 17 million Ugandans with expired IDs.
Unfortunately, the government has been delaying the rollout due to financial constraints, limiting the use of these IDs to domestic purposes only.
To mitigate inconveniences at border crossings, Simon Peter Mundeyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, advises all Ugandans traveling to neighboring countries to utilize alternative travel documents such as passports or temporary movement permits.
For those without passports, certificates of identity can be obtained for UGX 40,000 at inland offices across the country, provided they possess a national ID.
