The mass enrolment and renewal of National Identity Cards organised by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) officially kicked off in Ibanda District, as part of a nationwide campaign aimed at updating and issuing national IDs to millions of Ugandans.
The exercise was launched on Wednesday at the Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC)Godfrey Mbetegyerize, who emphasised the critical importance of possessing a valid national ID.
“I urge all citizens of Ibanda District to take this opportunity seriously and ensure they update their National IDs. The ID is not just a document; it is a key that unlocks access to vital government services and programs,” said Mr. Mbetegyerize during the launch.
The campaign, which began across the country on Tuesday, is expected to run for six months. It targets over 15.8 million renewals and 17.2 million new registrations as part of NIRA’s national strategy to ensure every Ugandan has access to official identification.
Peter Wandela Emmanuel, the NIRA Registrar in Ibanda, reiterated that the exercise is completely free of charge.
“This is a nationwide effort to ensure every Ugandan has an up-to-date national ID. Those whose IDs have expired or are about to expire should report to their respective parishes for renewal,” he explained.
“However, those who wish to make changes to the particulars on their IDs such as name corrections or photo updates, will be required to visit the main NIRA office in Ibanda District for processing. “He added.
Wandela encouraged residents to bring their expired or soon-to-expire national IDs when reporting for the renewal exercise at the parish level.
NIRA’s mass registration and renewal drive is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national identification systems and enhance service delivery across the country.
The campaign is expected to significantly boost access to public services, voting rights, financial inclusion, and other critical national programs that require valid identification.
