Govt Set to Launch Mass Enrollment and Renewal Exercise for National IDs
The Government of Uganda, through the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), is poised to kick off a comprehensive mass enrolment and renewal exercise for National Identity Cards (NIDs), targeting millions of Ugandans across the country.
This national project, which is slated to officially commence on October 15, 2024, will aim to enroll 17.2 million unregistered citizens and renew the NIDs of 15.8 million Ugandans whose cards are set to expire by December 2025.
According to a press statement delivered by the Honorable Minister for Internal Affairs, the exercise will be executed with the assistance of approximately 13,787 personnel who will be deployed across 10,717 parishes nationwide.
The recruitment process, which ran from February 26th to June 30th, 2024, saw a massive response, with NIRA receiving nearly 155,915 applications for 22 job roles.
“Computer competency tests were conducted to ensure candidates could handle the specific data capture requirements, and approximately 62,000 applicants who passed the tests proceeded to oral interviews,” the statement read.
In preparation for this large-scale initiative, NIRA has made progress in securing the necessary infrastructure and systems. On July 8, 2024, a contract was signed with a provider to supply the new National Security Information System, and project kickoff meetings began shortly after on July 17.
Since then, critical initiation activities have been underway, including the review of system specifications and alignment of supply chain schedules.
Rosemary Kisembo, the Executive Director of NIRA, emphasized the readiness of the agency to embark on this crucial task. “We are committed to ensuring that every eligible Ugandan is registered and equipped with a National Identity Card in time.”
“The new system will introduce enhanced features to improve the registration process, including a portable solar kit, an iris scanner, and a secondary display for real-time data verification by applicants,” she stated.
Key components on the critical path for the project’s success include the delivery of 5,650 biometric registration kits, the acquisition of blank NID cards, and the operationalization of card printing and personalization equipment.
Additionally, five essential software modules will be integrated into the new system to support various functions, such as card renewal, new registrations, and data migration.
As the country awaits the arrival of the new system, interim arrangements have been made to ensure continuity.
Citizens aged 16 years and above are encouraged to register using the current infrastructure, and NIRA assures that those registered before the system upgrade will have their biometric data, including iris scans, captured once the new equipment is operational.
“The government’s priority is to ensure that no citizen is disenfranchised due to system acquisition delays,” she added.
In a move to mitigate potential disruptions in service delivery, the government has also extended the validity of expiring National Identity Cards by one year as an interim measure until new IDs are issued.
NIRA’s integration with 90 key institutions, including telecom companies and banks, ensures real-time verification of biometric and biographic data, regardless of the card’s expiration status.
by Chimpreport