By Aggrey Twesigye
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in Mbarara has started issuing renewed National Identity Cards, four months after rolling out a nationwide mass enrollment and renewal campaign targeting at least 33 million Ugandans.
The exercise, which commenced on May 27, 2025, seeks to renew 15.8 million expiring IDs and register an additional 17.2 million new citizens, as government phases out cards that were issued a decade ago and have now expired.
According to Dan Ataaho, the NIRA Mbarara office head, residents whose IDs have been processed can now collect them from the NIRA regional offices in Mbarara, the Mbarara City North and City South Division offices, as well as other designated collection points within Mbarara District.
Residents of Kashari North will pick up their IDs from Rubindi Sub-county Headquarters, while those in Kashari South will collect theirs at Bwizibwera–Rutooma Town Council Headquarters.
Ataaho emphasized that the renewed IDs are crucial ahead of the 2026 general elections, where a valid national ID will be mandatory for voter verification.
