“Don’t Wait for Elections to Look for National IDs,” – Aspiring MP Sureman Segawa

Aspiring MP for Mubende Municipality, Ismael Ssegawa, has tasked the youth with immediately registering with the National Identification and Registration Authority ( NIRA) to fulfill their citizenship as Ugandans.

Ssegawa, during his consultation meeting with the people of Kayinja in Mubende Municipality, said that many people have suffered when trying to process something that benefits all, ending in vain because they don’t have national IDs.

“Men and Women, let’s get IDs. Those who don’t have IDs fight hard to get those national IDs, because even if you don’t use them in elections, it shows you are a valuable Ugandan,” Sureman explained.

“Even if your phone line is missing, replacing it will require you to have a national ID. Before you look at getting it for elections, first get it for your benefits, then you think of elections, I pray you support me,” He added.

As the country prepares for the 2026 general elections, IDs are expected to be the primary requirement to identify a person as a Ugandan and a voter.

At times, Ugandans have faced challenges, especially those without identity cards, in applying for government jobs, participating in government schemes including Emyooga PDM and others.

Recently, NIRA announced that they had resumed the registration of people without identity cards and replacements, but many have since complained of the fees charged, which has caused some relaxation amongst people.

According to NIRA, all Ugandan citizens 18 years and above, who have never registered for National Identity Cards and are seeking to register, are required to present an introduction letter signed by the LC 1 Chairperson, stamped by the Internal Security Officers.

The letter of introduction indicates the applicant’s name, date of birth, tribe, clan, and nationality; indicates parents’ names, tribes, clans, nationality, and living status.

Applicants who are below the age of 18 years are required to present a photocopy of at least one of the parents’ National ID Card or a copy of the National ID Card of a blood relative, where both parents are deceased.

There are 27.4 million registered persons in the National Identification Register, with those in the age bracket 0-17 years being 6.3 million or about 22.1 percent, according to NIRA Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo, out of the total population of about 46 million.

Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is preparing for a mass national ID registration and renewal exercise, Which was slated to start in March 2025, aiming to register unregistered citizens and renew expiring IDs, with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and NIRA hoping to enroll 17.2 million unregistered Ugandans and renew 15.8 million IDs.