President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni, who also serves as Uganda’s Minister of Education and Sports, participated in the country’s mass National ID registration and renewal campaign on Tuesday. The exercise took place at the State Lodge in Nakasero.
The programme is being led by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), under the direction of Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo.
“Today, Maama Janet and I registered to renew our National Identification Cards in Nakasero,” the President posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I urge every eligible Ugandan to do the same for improved service delivery.”
According to government figures, the campaign aims to renew 15.8 million National IDs that are due to expire by June 2025. At the same time, the authorities hope to register 17.2 million Ugandans who are not yet in the system.
The exercise officially began on 27 May 2025 and will take place at more than 10,000 parishes across the country. It’s open to both new applicants and those renewing their IDs.
Ms. Kisembo stressed the urgency of the campaign during a recent address. She pointed out that out of a population of 45.9 million, only 27.4 million Ugandans are currently registered.
“The key role of all citizens is to present themselves at the nearest registration point with the required documentation and register or renew their IDs,” she said.
The government sees the registration effort as critical for national security and development. The new cards will feature enhanced biometric data, intended to make identity verification more secure and less vulnerable to tampering.
Officials say the updated ID system is a cornerstone of the country’s broader development agenda, aimed at improving access to public services and reinforcing social infrastructure.
