At least 5.5 million National Identity Cards remain unclaimed, Daily Star Uganda has learned.
In May 2025, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) embarked on a mass registration and renewal exercise targeting 15.8 million National IDs set to expire by June 2025. The exercise also aimed to register 17.2 million new applicants, including children under 17 years and citizens who missed the 2014 registration.
The new National IDs feature enhanced security measures, including laser engraving of multiple images for anti-counterfeit protection, a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) similar to those in passports, and a 2D barcode readable by smartphones or scanners. The barcode stores encrypted personal data and enables fast and reliable identity verification.
In October 2025, NIRA dispatched over five million National Identity Cards to 96 districts following the recent mass enrollment exercise. However, the cards remain largely unclaimed despite public communication efforts by the authority.
“Out of over seven million newly printed National IDs, only 1.5 million have been picked up. Our offices are open in all districts nationwide,” NIRA said in a statement.
“While we continue printing and dispatching cards, we encourage applicants to visit their respective district offices to pick up their cards,” the statement added.
NIRA also said that based on feedback received, it is improving its communication platforms to provide clear and timely updates on application status, including card readiness and pickup locations.
“These cards are in your districts, but pickup remains very low. When you enrolled, the place where you registered falls under the jurisdiction of a NIRA office. The guidance was clear — we would mass enroll and mass issue,” NIRA Registrar Claire Ollama said recently.
She added: “Please go to your nearest office and pick up your cards. Registration happened over time, and therefore cards are received over time because we did not register on the same day. That is why it is called a project.”
