NIRA prints 100,000 national IDs, sets August for diaspora registration

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The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced a major breakthrough in the long-awaited production of national identity cards, with at least 100,000 national IDs already printed and dispatched to various locations across the country.

NIRA registrar Clare Omalla told the media during a joint security meeting at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday, July 14, 2025, morning that the development is “good news” and an encouraging sign that the mass renewal and registration campaign is finally bearing fruit.

“We produced 100,000 cards last week. They have already been dispatched to different parts of the country.”

She emphasised that applicants who recently submitted requests for renewal or new national IDs should remain patient and await official communication.

“We are working to send out clear messages that will specify where each individual will pick up their ID. The location will be the same jurisdiction where the applicant’s biometrics were originally captured,” she clarified.

“If you haven’t applied yet, this [printing] might be your sign to come through and renew or apply for your national ID.”

Diaspora registration set to start in August

Omalla also announced that Ugandans living abroad will soon benefit from targeted diaspora registration, starting with the Middle East.

She revealed that registration activities would begin in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this August, with plans to roll out the exercise to other regions in a staggered manner.

“For Ugandans living in Qatar and Dubai, this is your chance. Whether you travelled without a card, were born abroad to Ugandan parents, need a renewal, or want to amend your details—this is the time to prepare,” she said.

Those seeking to correct names or other details on their IDs are advised to begin gathering the necessary legal documents, including affidavits and deed polls, to support their applications.

“We are also working closely with our embassies, which act as registration centres, to determine when other regions will be served,” Omalla added.

“Once the embassies confirm their schedules, we shall communicate to Ugandans in other parts of the world.”

She urged content creators on platforms such as TikTok and Facebook with large Middle East-based Ugandan audiences to support the campaign by inviting NIRA officials for live sessions to help disseminate information.

School-based child registration intensified

In another key update, Omalla reaffirmed NIRA’s commitment to issuing legal identities to all Ugandan children, noting that Thursdays and Fridays have been designated as “child-centric days.”

“Some of you might wonder why our teams are not visible in your parishes these days,” she said.

“Please know that we are in schools, ensuring that the children of this country, who are just as Ugandan as you, are registered and documented.”

She assured parents that, unlike in past exercises, NIRA is now using a real-time feedback system that will alert them at every stage of the process.

“As soon as a child’s application is received and their name assigned, we send out a message. If the child is 16 or 17 and qualifies for a card, we’ll also notify you once it’s ready for pickup, either by text or email,” Omalla said.