The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) has decided to shift its mass registration exercise to the parish/ward level.

NIRA is currently doing the registration of persons at the district level.

Brig. Steven Kwirigira, the director of Operations at NIRA says the shift aims to ensure that everyone can easily access the registration services to obtain a valid national ID.

“Starting with June 2024, we are going to the parishes and rotational, from place to place to ensure that everybody is served,” says Kwirigira.

During a consultative meeting held on Wednesday with stakeholders from the Ankole region ahead of the mass registration and renewal of National Identity Cards, Kwirigira said they are targeting to register over 17 million people in the forth coming mass registration exercise.

He said they are also targeting over 15 million renewals of the cards that were registered in 20/15.  Kwirigira said it will be difficult for an individual to access all government services without a national ID.

Hajji Bashir Kazibwe, the City Councilor for the elderly in Mbarara City, commended the shift of registration to the ward level noting that it would ease their mobilization and transport for the beneficiaries.

Kazibwe, however tasked NIRA officials to be vigilant against non-citizens, notably refugees, who allegedly bribe local leaders to obtain citizenship and identity cards.

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is set to hold the second mass enrollment as well as mass renewal of National Identification Cards.

Osborne Mushabe, the head of communications at NIRA says the registration for mass issuance of IDs to new citizens as well as the renewal exercise will start on June 1 and run up to September 30, 2025.