The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) has made significant progress in the ongoing national ID renewal exercise, with over 5.3 million Ugandans renewing their identification cards since the campaign began on May 27, 2025.
The authority aims to renew IDs for 17 million Ugandans within six months.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre this afternoon, NIRA Registrar Buikwe District, Claire Ollama noted that despite the positive momentum averaging 840,000 renewals per week the exercise is being hampered by corruption.
She revealed that some officials are demanding bribes for services that are meant to be free.
Ollama said it has been difficult to take disciplinary action against these registrars due to a lack of evidence and urged the public to come forward with proof to aid investigations.
Ollama also announced that NIRA will resume school-based registration of children toward the end of July 2025.
She encouraged parents to complete and return forms sent through schools so that children can be issued National Identification Numbers (NINs).
She emphasized that holding a National ID is essential for accessing key services such as banking, tax registration, education, and land transactions.
The nationwide campaign, which began in May, targets the renewal of 15.8 million expiring IDs and registration of 17.2 million new applicants, including those who missed the initial mass registration.
According to Ollama, NIRA is working in partnership with the Ministry of Education to roll out “School-Centric Registration Days,” aimed at integrating early ID registration into the national identity framework.
The broader goal of the initiative is to provide secure identification to all Ugandans, thereby promoting legal empowerment, inheritance rights, national unity, and access to essential services.
By Olivia Nabaggala
7th July 2025
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