Apac flags off national ID renewal

28 May 2025, 6:07 am

By Mike Okwang Ogule

The long-awaited nationwide mass renewal and enrollment exercise for National Identity Cards officially kicked off in Apac district yesterday, with a high-profile launch at the Apac District Council Hall.

The event marked the beginning of an intensive drive led by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to ensure all citizens have valid and updated national IDs. Speaking during the launch, Mr. Richard Owachgiu, the Apac District Registration Officer, underscored the importance of the exercise, noting that it will cover every subcounty within the district.

“This process is especially critical for individuals whose national IDs expired, particularly those first enrolled in 2014 and 2015,” said Owachgiu. “We urge everyone in that category to visit the nearest registration centre for renewal. Those with unexpired IDs are advised to wait, as we are currently focusing on those whose cards have already lapsed.”

Welcoming the initiative, Mr. Paul Muboki, the Acting Chief Administrative Officer of Apac District, expressed appreciation to NIRA for rolling out the exercise at a timely moment. He encouraged eligible residents to take advantage of the free renewal opportunity, especially those who have lost their cards.

“This is the right time to ensure your national ID is up-to-date,” Muboki said. “I also thank NIRA for offering free replacement for lost cards during this period. I urge all citizens to always guard their IDs jealously, as these documents are essential for accessing various government programs and services.”

Representing the central government at the event, Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Joan Apio commended NIRA for upgrading its systems and equipment to facilitate a smoother and faster renewal process.

“The new equipment is a significant improvement from what we had previously,” Apio remarked. “However, I caution the registration team against moving with these machines at night due to security risks. We pledge full support in safeguarding this equipment throughout the exercise.”

Ms. Apio also issued a strong warning against extortion, advising the public to report any Registration Assistant who attempts to solicit money. “This is a free government service,” she stressed. “Anyone caught exploiting the public will be arrested and prosecuted.”

The new-look Ids will have biometrics including fingerprints and the iris. Furthermore, the new ID will support online verification, offline verification, digital signature, secure credentials access support, eGovernment service support, physical authentication, all leading mobile plus tablet platforms and Mobile ID.

The mass enrollment and renewal drive that rolled off on May 27, is expected to benefit over 33 million Ugandans — including 15.8 million whose National IDs are set to expire by June 2025, and another 17.2 million citizens, many of whom have never been registered.