In an effort to encourage Ugandans to embrace the national ID renewal process, President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni participated in the exercise on Tuesday afternoon at State House Entebbe.

A team from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) conducted the renewal, which involved biometric scanning, including fingerprinting and retina scans, to update their identification records.

During the process, President Museveni joked about the time it took for his biodata to be captured, saying: "How can I hold a smile for such a long time?"

Meanwhile, the First Lady assisted the President in selecting the best photograph for his new ID.

NIRA’s Ambitious Enrollment Goals

According to the official government announcement, NIRA aims to:

• Renew 15.8 million national IDs set to expire by June 2025.

• Register an additional 17.2 million citizens for new IDs.

The process officially begins on May 27, 2025, and will be conducted across 10,594 parishes nationwide, catering to both new registrants and those renewing expired IDs.

Key Officials Emphasize Citizen Participation

NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo urged Ugandans to take part, stating: "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."

To ensure greater convenience, the process will include online pre-registration for both first-time applicants and renewals.

The upgraded national IDs will feature advanced biometric security, incorporating fingerprint and iris scans for enhanced online and offline verification of e-government services.

Government Commitment to a Smooth Rollout

State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, confirmed that the mass enrollment systems have been tested, and the full rollout will commence on May 27, 2025.

He reassured citizens, stating: "We are committed to ensuring no one is left behind. Identity is crucial for national planning and access to services."

The mass registration is expected to conclude by August 12, 2025, following a statutory extension on expired IDs, with processing times eventually reducing from four weeks to two weeks as the system stabilizes.