The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced that more than 9.1 million Ugandans have been registered so far in the ongoing nationwide mass registration and renewal exercise.
According to Claire Ollama, the registrar at NIRA, the exercise which began two months ago targets over 17 million people, including first-time applicants and children.
Of the 9.1 million already registered, approximately 8 million are renewals for expired or soon-to-expire national ID cards. Additionally, about 1 million are new applicants, while 800,000 children have been registered to receive National Identification Numbers (NINs).
Speaking during a weekly joint security press briefing, Ollama cautioned the public against corrupt practices such as bribing registration officials.
She stressed that such behavior compromises the integrity and credibility of the national exercise.
In a related development, NIRA has temporarily suspended the issuance of already produced renewed ID cards.
Ollama explained that the biometric kits used to issue these cards are currently being deployed for mass registration and data collection, prompting the temporary halt to prioritize ongoing registrations.
Meanwhile, the registration exercise for Ugandans living abroad has also commenced, starting with those residing in Doha, Qatar.
Ollama urged Ugandans in the diaspora to monitor official communication for scheduled registration dates in their respective countries.
By Ben Musanje
11th Aug 2025
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