Uganda sets deadline for National ID registration ahead of 2026 elections

The initiative, according to NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo, aims to prepare the country for the pivotal 2026 elections, enabling newly eligible voters to participate.

During a media briefing, Kisembo underscored the urgency of this registration campaign, highlighting its critical role in the formation of a voters register two years ahead of the elections. This strategic timeline ensures that by 2026, all citizens who have reached the age of 16 by then are eligible and duly registered to vote.

Set to kick off in June 2024, the comprehensive national identity mass enrolment exercise will span ten months, extending across Uganda's 10,717 parishes.

This nationwide endeavor is rooted in the NIRA Act's Section 5, which mandates the authority to establish, manage, and uphold a national identification register.

Kisembo elaborated on the inclusivity of the registration process, emphasizing that every Ugandan, irrespective of age, gender, religious beliefs, background, occupation, or clan, is entitled to a National Identification Number (NIN).

However, the acquisition of a national identification card is an additional entitlement for those above the age of 16.

To streamline the enrollment procedure, NIRA plans to recruit Registration Assistants at the district level, with District Coordination Teams, led by Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), overseeing the screening of applicants. In a bid to enhance convenience and efficiency, an online pre-registration platform will be introduced, allowing individuals to commence their registration process from home before proceeding to enrollment centers for biometric data capture.

This extensive exercise not only aims to renew all National ID cards issued between 2014 and 2015, which are nearing the end of their 10-year validity period, but also to adopt a more comprehensive biometric system.

By incorporating iris recognition alongside traditional biometrics such as facial recognition and fingerprinting, NIRA seeks to bolster the identification process's inclusivity and security.

The initiative, originally slated for a June 2022 start, faced postponements due to preparatory and financial hurdles but is now on course for implementation.

This content was created with the help of an AI model and verified by the writer.