Story by Obed Kankiriho
Authorities in Kabale District have issued a stern warning to non-Ugandans against attempting to fraudulently register during the ongoing mass national ID renewal and registration exercise.
The warning was reiterated today during the official launch of the campaign at the Kabale District headquarters.
The nationwide exercise, which will run until late November 2025, aims to renew national IDs for over 15.8 million Ugandans whose cards have expired.
It also targets first-time applicants, especially youth who have recently turned 18, and individuals seeking corrections or updates to their personal information.
Presiding over the launch, Christopher Aine, the Kabale Deputy Resident District Commissioner, warned that any non-Ugandan found attempting to obtain a national ID illegally will face legal consequences.
Billy Basulwa, the Registrar for the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in Greater Kabale District, revealed that the authority has engaged local stakeholders, such as Village Chairpersons and GISOs in border areas, to help identify non-Ugandans and ensure that only eligible individuals are registered.
Basulwa emphasized that any foreign national seeking a Ugandan ID must provide a recommendation letter from their LC1 Chairperson, endorsed by a GISO or District Internal Security Officer, along with copies of their parents’ national IDs.
He urged security agencies to intensify enforcement efforts to prevent infiltration of the registration process by ineligible individuals.
In terms of staffing, Basulwa noted that:
60 registration assistants have been deployed in Kabale District
50 assistants in Rubanda District
26 assistants in Rukiga District
However, he acknowledged staffing gaps, citing that some applicants declined the roles due to delays in the commencement of the exercise.
He assured the public that efforts are underway to fill the remaining positions to ensure the smooth running of the registration process.
Authorities are calling on Ugandans to take advantage of the registration window early to avoid long queues and ensure that their identification details are accurate and up to date.
