NIRA Unveils Enhanced National IDs Ahead of Mass Renewal Drive Starting May 27

By Irene Nalumu | Wednesday, May 14, 2025
NIRA Unveils Enhanced National IDs Ahead of Mass Renewal Drive Starting May 27
National ID
The majority of the citizens are carrying around expired national identity cards after NIRA repeatedly failed to deliver on its promises

 

KAMPALA – The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has unveiled a new generation of enhanced National Identity Cards as it prepares to roll out a nationwide mass ID renewal and registration campaign starting May 27, 2025.

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NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo, while addressing journalists in Kampala, said the redesigned IDs incorporate stronger security features to curb forgery, ease verification, and improve access to digital services.

Among the upgrades are Multiple Laser Images (MLI), Machine-Readable Zones (MRZ), QR codes, and 2D barcodes—technologies expected to boost both offline and online identity verification across sectors.

The renewal and registration exercise will span six months and reach every parish in Uganda.

According to Kisembo, over 5,300 biometric registration machines have already been deployed to all sub-counties in readiness for the operation.

“This exercise will cater for expired IDs, first-time registrations for Ugandans aged 18 and above, and corrections of errors on existing IDs,” she said, adding that inclusivity is a key priority.

“No one will be left behind—this includes Ugandans in prison, those in the diaspora, and anyone who missed previous enrolments.”

To prevent illegal registrations by non-citizens, NIRA has formed verification committees in each district, chaired by Resident District Commissioners (RDCs).

These committees will scrutinise suspicious applications and identify fraudulent attempts.

The authority will spend Shs666.85 billion on the exercise, with the goal of renewing 15.8 million IDs for eligible Ugandans.

Kisembo also underscored the link between secure identification and efficient service delivery.

“A stronger ID system means better access to financial, health, and education services for all citizens. These enhancements are a necessary investment in our national development,” she said.

The announcement comes as many existing National IDs issued in 2014 begin to expire, prompting the need for a comprehensive renewal effort.

Authorities are encouraging Ugandans to take part early to avoid last-minute congestion.

The new IDs are expected to remain valid for ten years, in line with international standards, and position Uganda to better integrate into regional digital identity frameworks and e-government initiatives.

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