Kampala, Uganda — The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has reported an impressive surge in the ongoing national ID registration and renewal exercise, with over 3.5 million Ugandans successfully renewing their IDs today. This push is part of a nationwide effort to update the national database and ensure citizens have valid identification documents crucial for accessing various services.

Claire Ollama, a NIRA registrar, shared the latest figures with journalists, revealing that since the initiative began last week, approximately 2.5 million citizens have registered. She expressed satisfaction with the public’s active participation, emphasizing the importance of the exercise.

“The response from the public has been positive, which reflects their confidence in the importance of having up-to-date national IDs to access essential services,” Ollama stated.

NIRA estimates that around 15.8 million national ID cards are set to expire by August this year, underscoring the critical need for this exercise. Currently, only 27.4 million Ugandans are registered—a significant shortfall considering the country’s population of approximately 45.9 million, according to last year's census.

Rosemary Kisembo, NIRA’s Executive Director, highlighted these statistics and urged all eligible Ugandans, especially parents, to register their children, even those below the age of 16, to secure their National Identification Numbers (NIN). These numbers are a vital first step toward obtaining a national ID card and fostering broader civic participation.

NIRA also issued a strong condemnation of reports involving staff soliciting bribes from Ugandans for services that should be free or provided at a fixed cost. The authority reiterated its commitment to transparency and urged the public to report any such misconduct.

“Corruption undermines our efforts to build an accurate and reliable national database. We are addressing these issues vigorously,” Ollama emphasized.

The mass registration and renewal drive is critical not only for maintaining an up-to-date national database but also for enabling access to vital government and private sector services. These include banking, social welfare programs, electoral processes, and more.

Citizens are encouraged to visit designated registration centers to update their details and ensure their IDs remain valid for the years ahead.