Internal Affairs State Minister, Gen David Muhoozi has mentioned the nationwide Identity playing cards that expire in 2024 will stay legitimate for one more 12 months.
Gen Muhoozi led a crew of technocrats together with officers from the National Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on Thursday, 15 August 2024.
The minister mentioned the extension is contained in a Statutory Instrument revealed within the gazette on Monday, 12 August 2024.
NIRA, mentioned Gen Muhoozi, is now set to embark on a large registration train which he admits is delayed for logistical causes.
“This train [the renewal and mass registration] was presupposed to start on 01 June 2024, nevertheless, we skilled challenges of delays in procurement and institution of the brand new Industrial Security Information System,” he mentioned.
He added, “The key gadgets on the important path must be in place earlier than graduation of the train they usually embody supply of 5,650 biometric registration kits, supply of clean playing cards, information centre, {hardware} and 5 software program modules.”
The minister mentioned regardless of inordinate delays in renewal of nationwide IDs, steps are being taken to make sure all individuals eligible for voting within the 2026 elections may have their particulars captured and issued with IDs to take part within the voting train.
Committee Chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye steered that a number of nationwide occasions at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds might be guilty for NIRA’s slowed operations.
“You reported to us that NIRA makes use of 30 working days by occupying Kololo. We need you to allay our fears and people of the residents, that the continued occupancy of Kololo Ceremonial grounds and subsequent ceremonies won’t have an effect on supply timelines,” Kajwengye mentioned.
Hon. Rauben Arinaitwe (Indep., Isingiro West County) mentioned the popularity of IDs whose validity has been prolonged shall be problematic, particularly in cross-border actions.
“Here in Uganda, we would know that the cardboard is expired however when I’m in a sister nation they usually discover out that my ID is expired, they may assume that I’m attempting to flee from my nation,” mentioned Arinaitwe.
Hon. Brandon Kintu (NRM, Kagoma North County) was sad with the perennial absence of NIRA workers.
“NIRA will put up a signpost for his or her places of work however this simply stays on paper. The officers are by no means there so if these folks can’t work, allow them to resign. I visited an workplace for over per week they usually informed me the officer was not out there,” he mentioned.
