Uganda’s national identity renewal campaign has reached a significant milestone, with over 5.3 million Ugandans already stepping forward to renew their National IDs.
This achievement was announced on Monday by Ollama Claire, District Registrar of Buikwe, during a press briefing at the Police Headquarters in Naguru.
“Ugandans have spoken with their feet,” Claire declared. “Over 5.3 million of you have already shown up to renew your National IDs. That’s no small feat. Asante sana!”
However, while commending the effort, NIRA emphasized that the current pace—averaging about 40,000 renewals per week—is too slow to meet national targets on time.
If the pace continues unchanged, full coverage may take an additional nine months, a timeline that threatens to delay the benefits of a modern, inclusive ID system.
“This is the time to step on it,” Claire stressed. “Communities must rally, parishes must mobilize, and individuals must show up early. Every week matters. Every ID counts.”
NIRA’s renewed focus this week is on why every Ugandan must be registered—starting from infancy. The message is clear: identity is not just a document; it is the foundation of justice, inheritance, and national security.
NIRA has unveiled a new strategy—School-Centric Registration Days—to capture young Ugandans in the national registry. Partnering with the Ministry of Education and Sports, schools will become focal points for child registration.
“Parents must take this seriously,” Claire noted. “Without a National Identification Number (NIN), your child cannot inherit your assets. A land title with no matching ID is a locked gate.”
NIRA raised red flags about the rising misuse of national IDs. Some Ugandans are unknowingly endangering themselves by allowing others to transact business, acquire land, or register companies using their personal identification.
When things go wrong, it’s the legitimate ID holder who bears the legal burden.
Referencing musician Paul Kafeero, Claire cautioned: “We must tread carefully in our dealings. Not all that glitters is gold. Your name is your first asset—protect it.”
Unregistered individuals in a household pose a security and legal risk, Claire warned. Full registration strengthens service delivery, eliminates impersonation, and seals cracks where corruption and ghost records flourish.
“A nation without full registration is a nation with holes in its pocket,” Claire said emphatically.
For those who missed the renewal window due to personal changes (like name or marital status), relief is on the way. The Change of Particulars (COP) service officially launches on 21 July 2025.
