Kampala, Uganda. The National Identity Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced a significant move to register all school-going children aged 16 and above for National Identity Numbers (NIN) and national identity (IDs) cards during the upcoming term.
This nationwide initiative aims to ensure that every eligible student is included in the national identification database.
According to Osborne Mushabe, the NIRA spokesperson, emphasised the commencement of a mass registration exercise in schools during the current term.
The focus, says Mushabe, will be on students in both primary and secondary schools who have never undergone the process of obtaining national identity cards.
The age criteria for this comprehensive registration effort have been set at 16 years and above. Mushabe highlighted that individuals below 16 years would be assigned National Identification Numbers (NINs) upon successful registration, while those above 16 years would be issued with physical national identity cards.
School-based Outreach
According to Mushabe, a substantial number of young citizens below 16 remain unregistered. As the school holidays conclude this week, NIRA plans to conduct outreaches at schools, ensuring that registration services are extended to students who have not yet been enrolled for NINs or national IDs.
In the same way, NIRA is preparing to launch a mass renewal of national identity cards in response to the expiration of a significant number of existing IDs. To facilitate this extensive operation, the Finance Ministry has allocated Ugx192 billion.
Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry, confirmed this financial commitment, signifying the government’s dedication to the effective implementation of the ID registration process.
Parent’s role
Mushabe has urged parents to play a crucial role in easing the registration process for their children. Parents are encouraged to provide photocopies of their national IDs to their children as they return to school.
This initiative aims to streamline the acquisition of National Identity Cards for eligible students.
Features
General Kahinda Otafiire, the Internal Affairs Minister, clarified that the existing National IDs, issued with a ten-year lifespan starting in 2014, were set to expire in 2024.
Due to technological advancements and the demands of modernity, the country will transition to enhanced and user-friendly National IDs in this year.
Otafiire further mentioned that technological innovations necessitated the upcoming changes in ID features. The new National ID will incorporate various enhancements without requiring a change in the current National Identification Number (NIN).
According to Otafiire, Ugandans will receive the new national IDs free of charge. However, those seeking express service can apply online and pay a fee of Ugx50,000.
However, a person’s National Identification Number (NIN) never expires or changes. The NIN is a unique number issued once to every citizen on the National Identification Register.
Section 68 of the ROPA provides that the NIN shall be evidence of citizenship.
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