Government Extends National ID Validity Amid Enrollment Delays
The Ugandan government has extended the validity of approximately 15.8 million National IDs set to expire between August 2024 and December 2025. This extension, announced by Gen. David Muhoozi, aims to avoid business disruptions and address challenges in the mass enrolment and renewal process overseen by the National Identification and Registration Authority.
The Ugandan government has announced a one-year extension for the validity of around 15.8 million National IDs that were due to expire between August 2024 and December 2025. This decision aims to prevent disruptions in business operations across the country.
The announcement was made by Gen. David Muhoozi, Minister of State for Internal Affairs, during a session with Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee. The Minister was providing an update on the upcoming mass enrolment, renewal, and registration of new National IDs by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).
Gen. Muhoozi informed the Committee that there are currently 17.2 million unregistered citizens, with 3.7 million National IDs set to expire by January 2025. He further noted that the IDs expiring between August 2024 and December 31, 2025, total 15.8 million.
NIRA has also been tasked with delivering data to the Electoral Commission by November 30, 2024, which will be used to compile the national voters’ register ahead of the 2026 general elections. The mass enrolment exercise, originally scheduled for June 2024, was delayed due to necessary due diligence on the company contracted to deliver the national security system for the exercise. The contract was finally signed on July 8, 2024.
The enrolment and renewal of National IDs were initially set to begin on June 1, but the timeline has been revised multiple times due to various challenges.
NIRA’s Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo, has previously assured the public that the government is committed to ensuring that all National IDs are renewed ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The first nationwide registration for National IDs took place in 2014, and the current renewal process will be free of charge for citizens.
