The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced that upgraded national identity cards for individuals who applied for renewals are now ready for collection.
According to NIRA Registrar Claire Ollama, approximately 100,000 national ID cards have so far been printed and dispatched to various districts across the country. Speaking on Monday, Ollama urged applicants to remain patient as the distribution process continues.
“We have printed and sent out 100,000 ID cards, which are now available at designated pickup points. We ask Ugandans to be patient as more people will soon receive notifications with instructions on where to collect their cards,” she said.
Applicants will be required to collect their cards from the same locations where their biometric data was initially captured.
The rollout follows the nationwide mass registration exercise that began on May 27, targeting new applicants and those renewing expired IDs.
The upgraded national IDs come with enhanced security features, including laser engraving that embeds multiple images on the card, visible from different angles—making counterfeiting more difficult.
Additionally, the cards now feature a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ), similar to those found in passports, which allows for quick and reliable data retrieval by electronic scanners.
Each ID also includes a two-dimensional (2D) barcode containing encrypted data that can be accessed using smartphones or specialized scanners. This feature facilitates rapid identification, verification, and data security.
