Internal Affairs State Minister, Gen David Muhoozi has said the national Identity cards that expire in 2024 will remain valid for another year.
Gen Muhoozi led a team of technocrats including officials from the National Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on Thursday, 15 August 2024.
The minister said the extension is contained in a Statutory Instrument published in the gazette on Monday, 12 August 2024.
NIRA, said Gen Muhoozi, is now set to embark on a massive registration exercise which he admits is delayed for logistical reasons.
“This exercise [the renewal and mass registration] was supposed to commence on 01 June 2024, however, we experienced challenges of delays in procurement and establishment of the new Industrial Security Information System,” he said.
He added, “The key items on the critical path have to be in place before commencement of the exercise and they include delivery of 5,650 biometric registration kits, delivery of blank cards, data centre, hardware and five software modules.”
The minister said despite inordinate delays in renewal of national IDs, steps are being taken to ensure all persons eligible for voting in the 2026 elections will have their details captured and issued with IDs to participate in the voting exercise.
Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye suggested that multiple national events at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds could be to blame for NIRA’s slowed operations.
“You reported to us that NIRA uses 30 working days by occupying Kololo. We want you to allay our fears and those of the citizens, that the continued occupancy of Kololo Ceremonial grounds and subsequent ceremonies will not affect delivery timelines,” Kajwengye said.
Hon. Rauben Arinaitwe (Indep., Isingiro West County) said the recognition of IDs whose validity has been extended will be problematic, especially in cross-border movements.
“Here in Uganda, we might know that the card is expired but when I am in a sister country and they find out that my ID is expired, they might think that I am trying to escape from my country,” said Arinaitwe.
Hon. Brandon Kintu (NRM, Kagoma North County) was unhappy with the perennial absence of NIRA staff.
“NIRA will put up a signpost for their offices but this just remains on paper. The officers are never there so if these people cannot work, let them resign. I visited an office for over a week and they told me the officer was not available,” he said.
