16 million national IDs to expire in 12 months

At least 15.8 million national identity cards are expected to expire by August next year, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has said.

Speaking during a workshop for media about the forthcoming mass enrollment exercise, NIRA Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo said the number is part of those targeted for the upcoming exercise.

“A total of 15.8 million national are due to expire by August 2025 and will be considered for renewal during the mass enrollment exercise,” Kisembo said.

NIRA is set to kickoff the mass enrollment for upgraded national IDs around the country.

The new documents will have upgraded features including the iris among others.

Speaking on Monday, the NIRA Executive Director said only 27.4 million Ugandans are currently registered, of the 45.9 million, according to latest census figures.

She explained that in essence, the forthcoming exercise will be targeting between 17 and 18 million Ugandans who have never been registered.

“In essence, there is between 17 to 18 million new Ugandans to be registered. On a daily basis, we register one million new Ugandans and if we were to go with this pace, it would take us 17 years to register all of these people.”

Kisembo explained that the mass enrollment will also cater for the 1.5 million Ugandans who are born every year according to statistics by UBOS.

She however urged Ugandans to register all newly born babies to ensure they at least get National Identification Numbers(NIN).

National IDs are issued to people above 16 years with the rest only issued with NINs.

NIRA said the mass enrollment exercise will help them compile the national voters’ register to be submitted to Electoral Commission ahead of the 2026 general elections.