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In a bid to encourage Ugandans to embrace the newly launched national ID renewal process, President Yoweri Museveni and his wife, First Lady Janet, took part in the renewal exercise this Tuesday afternoon at State House Entebbe.
The process, conducted by a team from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), involved a comprehensive biometric scan, including fingerprinting and retina scanning, to update their identification records.
During the renewal process, President Museveni could be heard joking about the length of time it took having his biodata taken.
“How can I hold a smile for such a long time?” Museveni said.
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The First Lady was seen assisting the President in selecting the best photograph for his new ID.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has set ambitious goals for the national ID renewal and registration exercise.
As outlined in the official government announcement, the project aims to renew 15.8 million national IDs set to expire by June 2025, and register an additional 17.2 million citizens.
The process, which officially begins on May 27, 2025, will be conducted at 10,594 parishes across Uganda, with services available to both first-time registrants and those seeking to renew their expired IDs.
Rosemary Kisembo, the Executive Director of NIRA, emphasised the importance of citizen participation in the exercise.
"The key role of all citizens is to present themselves at the nearest registration point with the required documentation and register or renew their IDs," she said.
The registration process will also include online pre-registration for those renewing or obtaining IDs for the first time, ensuring greater convenience for citizens.
The new national IDs will incorporate advanced biometric data, including fingerprints and iris scans, to enhance security and facilitate online and offline verification for e-government services.
State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, confirmed that the systems for the mass enrolment have been thoroughly tested, and the full rollout will begin on May 27, 2025.
The government has urged Ugandans to participate truthfully and promptly, noting that identity is vital for national planning and access to services. "We are committed to ensuring no one is left behind," Muhoozi added.
The mass enrolment is expected to be completed by August 12, 2025, following the statutory extension on expired IDs, with processing times gradually reducing from four weeks to two weeks as systems stabilise.