NIRA to Replace Existing National ID's with Electronic Cards

The National Identification and Registrations Authority (NIRA), has revealed how they are in the process of introducing electronic national identity cards to replace the current ones according to the Minister for Internal Affairs , Gen Jeje Odong has said.

“We expect a new and enhanced identity card by 2024. The journey has already begun but we would like you to grab the bull by the horns so that by 2024 we have a new card with an electronic chip and other new features,” Odong said at a function held at the NIRA headquarters in Kololo.

Speaking at a function where the new NIRA Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo assumed office on Friday, Odong said the move is already in the pipeline and urged her to ensure it is realized by the year 2024.

“We want an enhanced national ID that will enable people move to other countries easily but also enable them transact business. The new ID that we envisage in 2024 will have enhanced features and most likely we will have it digitalized so we will be able to hold more data on that same facility(ID).It will be more a little robust than we have now”- Gen Jeje Odong said.

Asked whether the electronic ID will have an expiry date, the Internal Affairs Minister said government is yet to decide on the same.

“We will determine whether that will be a necessary requirement for the new identity card but as we speak now we have not yet determined whether it will have an expiry date.”

In 2015, after setting up of the National Identification and Registrations Authority(NIRA),government started mass registration of citizens for issuance of the national Identity Cards.

However, whereas Uganda’s population is above 40 million, only 25 million of these have been registered by NIRA.

Whereas having a national ID is mandatory to be able to get most government services, a smaller number of the population has been issued with the documents, a failure that NIRA has attributed to a number of challenges including lack of adequate staff and funds.

Speaking on Friday, the Internal Affairs Minister tasked the new NIRA Executive Director to ensure all Ugandans are registered but also getting cards since it is their right.