The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has urged the public to embrace the upcoming  mass registration and renewal of national identity cards.

NIRA spokesperson Osborn Mushabe said the renewal process presents an opportunity to update people’s national ID details in the system. 

“Additionally, new ID cards will incorporate features such as IRIS and other biometrics to align with international standards,” said Mushabe during a press conference in Kampala on Monday. 

Millions of Ugandans registered for national IDs in 2014 and 2015. The IDs’ validity was ten years.

“We are almost 10 years since Ugandans registered for IDs and we are about to start the mass renewal exercise so we thus call upon all Ugandans to be ready for the exercise,” said Mushabe.

He also said expiration of the national IDs does not equate to the expiration of citizenship.

“While national ID cards have a validity period of 10 years from the date of issue, citizenship itself is perpetual.” 

National IDs serve as crucial travel documents within the East African region.

International Civil Aviation Organization standards necessitate the capture of the latest facial image of the document holder.

To ensure accessibility, Mushabe announced plans to conduct the renewal exercise at the parish, ward, and sub-county levels, aiming to reach all Ugandans wherever they reside.