Uganda has launched a national ID pre-enrollment portal to streamline ID registration for 33 million citizens. NIRA emphasizes efficiency, reducing costs and wait times associated with the previous physical submission process, while the new platform allows online biographic submissions and simplifies biometric appointments. Tanzanian residents were the first in the diaspora to utilize the updated system. Citizens, including 16-year-olds, are encouraged to register for new IDs.
Today, Uganda officially launched its national ID pre-enrollment portal, targeting a vast population of around 33 million citizens and legal residents for ID registration and renewals. That’s right—a mass registration initiative kicked off today, May 27, and it’s expected to see a significant turnout as the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) rolls out this digitized approach.
To spread the word, NIRA has taken to its X account, highlighting how the pre-registration portal works. Notably, even parents can register their children from the comfort of home, which is a big win for busy families. This new online system was created to streamline the whole ID application process. NIRA aims to cut down on the wait times and costs that citizens had to deal with when visiting NIRA offices to submit their applications.
With the new portal, first-time ID applicants and those looking to renew their IDs will now submit their biographic details online first. After that, they’ll schedule a visit to a physical office for biometric capture or matching. This is a shift from the previous process where both bio and biometric data needed to be physically submitted, which often resulted in long on-site queues and data entry errors, according to reports from Nile Post.
An important part of this upgrade is the Application ID that applicants receive once they complete the online process. This ID acts as a confirmation document for the biometric screening—no need to print anything, which makes things easier.
Interestingly, some Ugandan nationals residing in Tanzania were the first to utilize this new online system for ID registration and renewals. This launch occurred in Dar es Salaam last week, attended by none other than NIRA’s Executive Director’s representative, Rosemary Kisembo.
Andrew Apedel, a Senior Registration Officer at NIRA, commented on the significance of Tanzania leading this charge. He stated, “by Tanzania leading the way, it sets a strong precedent for other missions worldwide to adopt the new advanced platform and encourages those still using the old system to upgrade accordingly.”
The second-generation national digital ID system is expected to ease access to digital services and boost Uganda’s digital transformation initiatives. This launch coincided with the 1st Uganda Diaspora Convention held on May 23 in Tanzania, where discussions revolved around the impact of the new ID on regional integration.
As this mass ID registration ramps up, NIRA urges all citizens—including students aged 16 and older—to make sure they kick off their national ID card registration as soon as possible. In a nutshell, this initiative is a leap forward in digitizing identity services and facilitating better access for Ugandans.
In summary, Uganda’s new national ID pre-enrollment portal is a game-changer, making the registration and renewal process more efficient and convenient. With a massive push for nearly 33 million citizens to register, access to digital services and ongoing digital transformation efforts are clearly on the government’s radar. The successful launch with Ugandans in the diaspora sets a positive precedent for future efforts and showcases the potential benefits of modernizing national identity systems.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
