The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has addressed concerns over reports that some individuals are being denied the right to register for National IDs.
Osborn Mushabe, NIRA spokesperson, emphasized that not everyone living in Uganda qualifies for a National ID, particularly foreigners and non-citizens.
NIRA is currently conducting a mass registration exercise for unregistered citizens, focusing on those eligible to vote in the 2026 general elections.
The exercise, which began on September 27, 2024, and will run for 53 days, aims to register citizens through mobile outreaches in various locations.
“To qualify for citizenship by birth, individuals must belong to one of the indigenous communities listed in the 1995 Ugandan Constitution and have grandparents who lived in Uganda by 1926,” says Mushabe.
Other categories of citizenship include registration, naturalization, and dual citizenship.
Mushabe notes that NIRA conducts a thorough registration process, which involves obtaining a form, getting recommendation from local authorities, and undergoing background checks to verify citizenship.
NIRA urges local leaders and security structures to verify applicants thoroughly before recommending them for registration. The authority also encourages citizens to report individuals attempting to register falsely.
The NIRA publicity boss emphasizes that the mass registration exercise is free of charge and aims to ensure all eligible Ugandans are registered for National IDs before the 2026 general elections.
