Uganda Begins Free National ID Renewal and Registration in April

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced that the countrywide renewal and registration of National IDs will start this April. This activity will go on for several months.

This large campaign is meant to help all Ugandans get proper identification. Having a valid ID is important because it allows people to access services like healthcare, jobs, banking, and government support.

Angella Bukirwa, the Human Resources Manager at NIRA, shared that renewing expired IDs will now be free of charge.

In the past, Ugandans had to pay to renew their IDs, which made it hard for some people to afford. Now, NIRA is removing that cost so more people can get or update their IDs without worrying about money.

However, not all services will be free. If someone loses their ID, they will pay UGX 50,000. If a person wants to change personal information like names or replace a damaged card, they will need to pay UGX 200,000. All payments must be made at the bank, and a receipt is needed before getting any service.

To make the process easier for everyone, NIRA is also bringing the services closer to the people. For the first ten months, services will be available in parishes instead of only towns or cities.

This means even people in villages or far places won’t need to travel long distances to renew their IDs.

To help with this, NIRA has trained over 10,000 registration assistants who will work at these local areas. These staff will assist citizens and help handle the large number of people expected to take part in the exercise.

This national ID campaign is not just about getting a card—it’s about making sure every Ugandan can fully take part in the country’s economy and social programs.

NIRA is encouraging all Ugandans to make use of this free service and ensure their identification is updated.