The Government through the Ministry of Internal Affairs has revealed that it has extended the validity of about 15.8 Million National IDs that were set to expire between August 2024 to December 2025, for one year. According to the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen David Muhoozi, the extension was done in order to allow the continuity of business within Uganda.

Minister Gen Muhoozi made these remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Defence & Internal Affairs Committee, where he was requested to provide an update on the mass enrollment and renewal and registration of the new National IDs planned by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). The IDs that were due to expire within August 2024 to December 2025 period will be extended by one year.

Minister Muhoozi informed the Committee that unregistered citizens are recorded as 17.2million, while the cards expiring by January 2025 are 3.7million and the cards expiring beginning August 2024 to 31stDecember 2025 are 15.8million. NIRA is also required to delivery of data to Electoral Commission by 30th November 2024, that will be used as the national voters’ register ahead of the 2026 general elections.

The Chairperson of Parliament’s Defence & Internal Affairs Committee, Hon Wilson Kajwengye (Nyabushozi County) asked NIRA to explain how it will ensure that the exercise isn’t delayed by the numerous closure of business whenever there are ceremonies taking place at Kololo Independence Grounds, which also hold the headquarters for the Authority.

 Hon Joel Ssebikaali (Ntwetwe County) wondered if Ugandans with expired IDs will be in position to enter East African Nations that allow Ugandans with valid National IDs entry remarking. Hon Christine Tubo (Kabong DWR) sought clarification on how the use of expired IDs will work noting, “How is this extension going to be done? Are you going to first withdraw the IDs and then give the new ones to the public? Does this extension have any implication and if it does, had you planned for it or not?”