Uganda to Mark International ID Day as NIRA Urges Citizens to Complete National Registration

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has called on Ugandans to take advantage of the ongoing parish-level mass registration and renewal exercise as the country prepares to commemorate International Identity Day on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday morning at the Uganda Police Headquarters in Naguru, NIRA Registrar Claire Ollama expressed gratitude to Ugandans who have already enrolled or renewed their national identity cards, but warned that time is running out for those who have not yet participated.

“As things stand, we are in week 16 of the six-month parish enrollment drive. This means we are in the evening of this exercise. I appeal to everyone who has not yet registered or renewed their National ID to do so while services are still at your parish,” Ollama said.

Tomorrow’s celebration of International ID Day, observed under the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16.9, underscores the global commitment that by 2030, every individual should have a legal identity, including birth registration.

“For NIRA, this day is monumental. We are mandated to register all persons and civil events in Uganda—births, deaths, and marriages—so this day is a moment of reflection on how far we have come in providing Ugandans with a legal identity,” Ollama explained.

To mark the day, NIRA, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, will launch specialised outreaches at regional referral hospitals and high-volume health facilities across the country.

“With the support of our partners, we are creating a system to ensure that a child’s birth is registered immediately. As mothers leave hospitals with their discharge forms, they should also leave with a notification of birth record. We are also deploying kits in hospitals so that parents can apply for a National Identification Number (NIN) in real time,” Ollama said.

She emphasised that this approach will lock in registration at birth, reducing the need for costly mass enrollment exercises in the future.

NIRA also highlighted its ongoing diaspora outreach programs, conducted with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Successful registration drives have been held in the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom, with plans underway to extend the services to Germany and other countries.

“We want every Ugandan, wherever they are in the world, to celebrate ID Day with the pride of having a unique legal identity,” Ollama said.

NIRA reminded parents that applying for a birth certificate within the first six months after a child’s birth remains free of charge. After that period, fees of UGX 10,000 (children under six years), UGX 20,000 (children under 18), and UGX 50,000 (adults) apply.

Ollama urged parents to make timely applications to avoid unnecessary costs, stressing that identification is a continuous service and not a one-off exercise.

Despite progress, NIRA raised concern over low renewal numbers. So far, the country has recorded 10.5 million ID renewals and 2.5 million fresh registrations, figures that remain short of national targets.

“These numbers are worrying because the days of the project are fast ending and people are not turning up in big numbers. Choosing not to register locks you out of accessing vital services,” Ollama cautioned.

She further reminded citizens to safeguard their National Identification Numbers (NINs) as personal data, warning against complacency.

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate International ID Day, NIRA is urging every citizen to seize the remaining weeks of the parish-level registration drive.

“We pray that Ugandans will turn out in large numbers and ensure they have a legal identity. This is not just about access to services today but about securing your future rights as a citizen,” Ollama concluded.