Only 24 Days Left: NIRA Calls on Ugandans to Complete National ID Registration

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has issued a final call to Ugandans to take advantage of the remaining 24 days before the ongoing mass enrollment and renewal exercise officially closes at the end of October.

According to Claire Ollama, a Registrar at NIRA, the countrywide exercise, which began on April 1, 2025, initially operated at the district level before being extended to parishes across Uganda on May 27 using a mobile service approach. The registration phase is now entering its final stretch as part of the project’s implementation cycle.

“If you are a Ugandan and you hope to partake of this exercise, this is a reminder and a call to you that we only have 24 days left to be at your parish,” NIRA officials said in a statement, urging citizens not to wait until the last minute.

The Authority emphasised that its teams are deployed in all parishes and continue to respond to demand-driven requests. Citizens who have not yet seen NIRA officials in their area are encouraged to contact the district office for assistance.

Ollama, who was addressing the media in Kampala on Monday, expressed concern that many parents have yet to enrol their children, warning that failure to do so could deny them future opportunities.

“The national ID is an overarching opportunity for your child, and it is painful to see parents who delay this process,” NIRA noted.
“The best time to apply for a legal document, including a NIN or birth certificate, is when you don’t need it.”

NIRA confirmed that after the registration period closes, attention will shift to the mass issuance phase, during which newly produced National Identity Cards will be distributed to successful applicants.

“As we speak this morning, we have produced three million national ID cards, which have already been dispatched to different parts of the country,” the statement said.

Applicants who have received SMS notifications confirming that their cards are ready can pick them up early from their respective district NIRA offices. For example, residents of Kampala Central Division can collect their cards from the NIRA headquarters on Lumumba Avenue.

Those who prefer to wait can retrieve their cards during the parish-level mass issuance phase once it begins.

In a bid to serve Ugandans abroad, NIRA announced an extensive European outreach program beginning this week in Germany, France, and the Benelux region.

The German schedule includes: Berlin: October 7–9, Cologne: October 11–13, Frankfurt: October 11, Nuremberg: October 12–13, Hamburg: October 15–18, and Munich: October 15–17. The European tour will continue in France and Benelux, with NIRA teams set to operate at: Paris (Uganda Embassy): October 13–16, Brussels: October 17, Amsterdam and Ghent (Belgium): October 18–19. Exact location points for Amsterdam and Ghent will be shared on NIRA’s official social media pages.

Ollama advised Ugandans living abroad to prepare necessary documents, including a blood relative’s national ID for first-time registration or their National Identification Number (NIN) for card renewal.

She recognised embassies in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Burundi, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, North America, Canada, China, and the United Kingdom for hosting earlier outreach activities.

Ollama clarified that embassy teams in these countries have been trained and equipped with registration kits to continue offering services beyond the visiting period.