A Ugandan national ID will be provided for free to all Ugandans, according to Minister Otafiire. However, for those wishing to apply online, a fee of UGX 50,000 must be paid.
In July 2023, the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) will restart the national identity card registration exercise, so Ugandans will need to apply for a new identity card.
According to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Maj. General Kahinda Otafiire said the exercise will start in June next year as the current National IDs have a life span of ten years, which is elapsing in 2024.
Minister Otafiire said the new IDs will be even more digital and user-friendly due to the advancement in technology and demands of modernity.
The new national identification cards will be provided to every Ugandan without charge, according to Otafire. However, those who wish to apply online will be required to pay UGX 50,000.
“The renewal of IDs will be free but those that want to do it online, they will have to pay UGX 50,000,” Gen Otafiire said.
He revealed the new National IDs will contain several features, which wouldn’t necessarily require the change of the current NIN.
“We are doing our level best to make sure that every Ugandan is registered and given his identity and every child who is born is registered and given a national identification number and also given means of identity,” Otafiire said while addressing journalists at the Media Center on Tuesday.
Established in 2015, NIRA is mandated to create, manage, maintain and operate the National Identification Register, assign a unique National Identification number to every person in the register and issue national Identification cards to nationals and aliens.
According to Rosemary Kisembo, the executive director of NIRA, the authority cooperates with citizens and the ministries department to collect information about birth and death registration for national planning and equitable resource distribution.
Kisembo said birth registration is free and mandatory and urged parents to register their children at birth and register all deaths in their families.
Joseph Biribonwa, the chairman board of directors of the National Identification and Registration Authority, said that Uganda will be celebrating Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics day (CRVS) on Wednesday 10th August under the theme “Harnessing coordination, Country Leadership, and Ownership to strengthen Integrated Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system a vehicle for counting everyone.”
Biribonwa also said that NIRA partnered with the ministry of education and the directorate of basic education and secondary schools to improve awareness of the importance of birth registration through the annual national Music, Dance, and Drama activities.
