By Robert Segawa
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced plans to commence mass registration of Ugandan citizens living abroad for the renewal of their national identity cards.
The registration exercise will be conducted in phases, beginning in August 2025 with the Middle East, specifically Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
While addressing the press today, Claire Olama, the District Registration Officer for Buikwe, stated that Ugandans currently living abroad who already have National Identification Numbers (NINs) will be required to visit Ugandan embassies in their respective countries when the registration begins.
She encouraged all Ugandans, both those born in Uganda and those born abroad to take part in the registration once it officially starts. Individuals with documentation issues are advised to consult their lawyers and obtain affidavits to facilitate the process.
In a related update, Olama revealed that 100,000 national identity cards have been produced as of last week and are ready to be dispatched to various regions across Uganda.
She added that the distribution of these cards will commence soon, and applicants will be notified via SMS on the phone numbers provided during biometric registration.
To collect a new ID, individuals must present their old, invalid ID cards. If the old card was lost, the applicant will need to provide a police letter that was used during the application process.
