Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has launched a nationwide campaign to renew and expand national ID coverage ahead of the 2026 general elections, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital transformation agenda. The campaign has begun with a pilot phase from May 2–26, 2025, and will transition to full rollout starting May 27.
Mass Renewal and First-Time Registration Effort
As part of this initiative, NIRA is targeting approximately 33 million Ugandans—renewing 15.8 million expiring national ID cards and registering 17.2 million individuals who are turning 16 or have never before registered. Citizens renewing their national ID cards must present either the original or a copy of the expired document. If the ID is lost, a police letter is required. Renewals are offered free of charge, but do not allow changes to personal information; those seeking to amend their records must undergo a separate, paid process.
New registrants must provide documentation proving Ugandan parentage or ancestry. For minors, registration must be supported by an adult, often a parent or guardian. This updated documentation process is intended to improve identity accuracy and strengthen verification.
The campaign builds on NIRA’s previous efforts to bolster its identity infrastructure and ensure every eligible citizen can participate in the 2026 elections, for which a valid national ID is a prerequisite for voter registration.
New Technology and Broader Digital Transformation
To support the large-scale operation, NIRA has deployed 5,665 upgraded biometric registration kits, acquired two high-speed laser card printers (each capable of producing up to 100,000 cards daily), and implemented online pre-registration tools to streamline the process. The upgraded system now includes iris recognition, in addition to fingerprint and facial biometrics, to accommodate individuals with worn or unreadable fingerprints, especially among the elderly or manual laborers.
The agency also plans to recruit over 13,000 personnel nationwide to assist in registration activities, reflecting the scale and urgency of the undertaking. This effort follows an earlier preparation phase launched in 2024, which laid the groundwork for the current rollout.
While renewal and first-time registration are free, citizens seeking to change details on their ID – such as name or date of birth – must pay UGX 200,000. Replacing a lost ID card costs UGX 50,000.
Uganda’s identity modernization initiative is also integrated with broader digital infrastructure efforts. The national ID system is being aligned with the Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), an open framework for scalable identity systems. The government is also working to enable its Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which will allow national ID credentials to be used for digital payments and wallet services. This aligns with regional trends toward integrated digital ecosystems that support e-government, health, and financial services.
NIRA has also pledged to address long-standing concerns over data integrity, with an emphasis on correcting past errors in names, birthdates, and other critical fields—issues that previously caused access problems for many citizens.
Sources: Monitor, Ugbulletin Politics, Ugbulletin Global
May 6, 2025 – by Ali Nassar-Smith
