Officials from the National Registration and Identification Authority (NIRA) in Arua are gearing up for the mass renewal exercise of national IDs, expected to commence next month. 

NIRA tentatively proposed August for the renewal exercise, pending confirmation of all factors.

National IDs issued between 2014 and 2015 will begin to expire in 2024 after ten years of issuance.

The NIRA office in Arua serves five administrative units, including Arua City, Arua residual district, Madi-Okollo, Terego, and Maracha.

Christine Ajok, the team leader of NIRA's Arua bureau, expressed readiness for the exercise despite staffing challenges faced by the branch.

A mother registering her newly born baby in Arua City

Ajok assured that the national ID renewal exercise is free of charge, including for those who wish to update the details on their previous cards.

Additionally, Ajok praised students for their massive turnout during the recent exercise to register for National Identification Numbers (NIN), as required by the education ministry.

"We organised a few outreaches in different sub-counties where we enrolled a number of learners for NINs, and I can say the turnout was very encouraging. Our staff did their best, and we served all of them," said Ajok.

The NIRA office in Arua recently announced that it is currently holding over 25,000 unclaimed national identity cards.