Over 13.3 million national IDs renewed as NIRA extends exercise to February 2026

KAMPALA - The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) says it has renewed over 13.3 million national identity cards and registered over 6.1 million first-time applicants as part of the ongoing nationwide mass enrolment and renewal exercise.

Speaking during the joint security weekly media briefing at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala city, on December 29, 2025, NIRA registrar Claire Ollama said the exercise, which commenced on April 1, 2025, was initially scheduled to run for six months before being extended due to overwhelming demand.

“The six months ended on November 8, 2025, but because of the demand that remained high, the board and management of NIRA, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, found it plausible to extend this project for a period of three months,” Ollama said.

As a result, the new deadline for the mass enrolment and renewal exercise is February 8, 2026.

Progress achieved so far

Providing an update, Ollama said as an authority, “We have registered 6,152,753 new registrations, these being persons who had never enrolled before and are now accessing the service for the first time”.

She added that 13,365,388 national IDs had been renewed, while 636,942 first-time national IDs had already been produced and made available for collection.

NIRA has also processed 32,351 changes of particulars and migrated 21,463,874 records from the old identification system to the new system.

“These figures reflect great progress and show that Ugandans now appreciate the importance of a legal identity,” Ollama said.

With schools closed for the holidays, Ollama urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the break to register children.

“This holiday, every child is at home. We are calling on every citizen to choose to enrol their children during this period,” she said.

She noted that NIRA offices across the country remain open from December 29 to December 31 to facilitate registrations.

Importantly, Ollama clarified that a physical parent is not mandatory for a child’s registration.

“Registering a child does not require a physical parent. A blood relative is legally accepted to help a child access this service,” she said.

Ollama also addressed widespread confusion regarding fees for changing children’s details, particularly names.

“Change of particulars for children below 18 years is free,” she said.

Parents or guardians are required to fill out Form 7, available on the NIRA website, and present it at a registration centre together with the child.

“The child does not swear an affidavit. You only fill the form and approach a registration centre,” Ollama explained.

She clarified that the commonly cited shillings 200,000 fee does not apply to children, but only to adult cardholders under specific circumstances

“There has been confusion that the shillings 200,000 applies to everybody. No. It applies to a cardholder, not a child,” she said.

However, a fee may apply if a child already has a certificate and a new certificate is required following the change.

Ollama urged Ugandans who are yet to register or renew their national IDs to do so before the February 8, 2026, deadline, noting that compliance with the exercise is a legal requirement.

“This is a momentous exercise as required by the law of Uganda, and we encourage all citizens to comply within the remaining time,” she said.