Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s long-awaited National ID renewal exercise has officially begun with a pilot phase launched on May 2, 2025, targeting senior officials of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and top brass from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to the State Minister of Internal Affairs Gen, David Muhoozi, this preliminary stage will run until May 26, laying the groundwork for a full-scale nationwide registration starting on May 27, 2025.
While this is a crucial step toward improving Uganda’s national database and enhancing service delivery, the exercise has already stirred public anxiety and sharp debate over the fees attached to certain services.
Under the new framework, renewing a National ID is free of charge for Ugandans whose information remains unchanged, correction or change of personal information on the National ID (e.g. name, gender, date of birth) will attract a fee of UGX 200,000 and replacement of lost or damaged National IDs will cost UGX 50,000.
This announcement has generated mixed reactions, especially among ordinary citizens who argue the costs are prohibitive in a struggling economy.
“How do they expect us to pay 200,000 just to correct a mistake that may not even be ours? This is a national service not a luxury.”
The pilot exercise is primarily targeting internal stakeholders including members of the NIRA Board of Directors and top officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs to test system readiness and iron out technical hitches before the nationwide rollout.
The pilot will ensure biometric upgrades, data validation and process optimization to avoid bottlenecks once the public registration begins.
“We are putting systems through a live test before we open it to 30+ million Ugandans,” Muhoozi stated.
Beginning May 27, Ugandans aged 16 and above will be required to renew their National IDs, especially those issued in 2014-2015, as they will soon expire based on the 10-year validity rule.
With Uganda’s 2026 general elections looming on the horizon, the exercise is being closely watched for its political implications, as access to valid ID cards is a prerequisite for voter registration, government services, banking and employment.
The Ministry insists the fees are necessary to cover administrative costs but civil society organizations and youth groups have criticized the move as discriminatory and unconstitutional.
“This exercise must be inclusive. You cannot price out the poor from the right to identification,” said Imran Kalule, a youth rights advocate.
Uganda’s National ID isn’t just a piece of plastic, it is the gateway to citizenship, health services, elections and government accountability. With millions set to renew, the smooth implementation of this exercise could redefine Uganda’s digital identity ecosystem or deepen inequalities if access remains gated by cost.
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