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Uganda's national ID and e-passport systems: status and findings

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 10 sources

Short answer

NIRA runs the national ID. It launched a mass enrolment and renewal exercise on 5 May 2025 to renew about 15.8 million cards and register 17.2 million new applicants 2. By 7 September 2026, 15.4 million new IDs had been printed and 10 million issued 4. The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) runs passports. Old machine readable passports became invalid after 4 April 2022 6. Applications are made at www.passports.go.ug 9.
ID agency
National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) 1
ID renewal launch
5 May 2025, parish rollout from 27 May 2025 2
ID status, 7 September 2026
15.4 million printed, 10 million issued 4
ID exercise cost
At least Shs666.85 billion 3
Passport agency
Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control 6
Old passport deadline
4 April 2022 6
Passport application
www.passports.go.ug 9

National ID renewal: what is confirmed

NIRA registers citizens and lawful residents, assigns the National Identification Number and issues ID cards 1. Its first cards were issued in 2014 and 2015, and some expired in August 2024 2.

State Minister for Internal Affairs Gen. David Muhoozi launched the mass enrolment on 5 May 2025. A pilot ran from 2 to 26 May 2025, and parish level rollout began on 27 May 2025 2. NIRA executive director Rosemary Kisembo said enrolment and renewal are free. Changing particulars costs Shs200,000, and corrections of NIRA errors are free 3.

Kisembo gave a total cost of at least Shs666.85 billion. This was Shs183 billion for new IDs, Shs293 billion for technology, data centres and kits, and Shs190.85 billion to pay 13,864 workers 3.

Equipment and system

Daily Monitor reported that the government procured up to 5,665 biometric registration kits, delivered in January 2025. Two card production machines with a combined capacity of 100,000 laser-engraved cards a day arrived in March 2025 2.

The same report says the new system adds iris capture and online entry of biographical data. A card was to be issued within four weeks of a successful application 2.

Where the ID exercise stands in 2026

Kisembo told Parliament's Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on 7 September 2026 that 15.4 million new IDs had been printed and 10 million issued. NIRA said about 5.4 million cards were uncollected and blamed a staffing gap 4. She was answering queries from the Auditor General's 2025 report 4.

MPs asked why getting or renewing an ID still takes months and why new IDs do not work for some bank and telecom services 4.

Auditor General warning and NIRA response

Auditor General John Muwanga's annual report, written in December 2022, warned that NIRA did not appear ready to replace the cards. It found no clear strategy or roadmap, and costs, card supply contracts, equipment and staff recruitment were not settled 5. NIRA's Osborn Mushabe replied that the agency was "still within time" and in "advanced stages" of preparation 5.

The e-passport

The government began issuing East African e-passports on 7 December 2018, following ICAO guidelines 7. DCIC says the phase out of machine readable passports began on that date 6. Old passports became invalid after 4 April 2022 6,8.

Sources differ on the first deadline. DCIC gives 31 January 2021 6. The Observer, on 5 April 2022, said the first deadline was 31 December 2021 and was extended for COVID-19 7.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said on 26 April 2021 that processing time fell from 21 working days to 2 to 4 days, and set a standard of 2 days for express and 4 days for normal applicants 9. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, republishing a Daily Monitor report, said in February 2024 that 1,346,560 passports had been issued since 2018. It said paper e-passports were being upgraded to polycarbonate e-passports 10.

Common questions

Is national ID renewal free in Uganda?

Yes, NIRA said renewal and first enrolment are free. Changing particulars costs Shs200,000 3.

How many new national IDs have been issued?

NIRA told Parliament that by 7 September 2026, 15.4 million were printed and 10 million issued 4.

Can I still use an old Ugandan passport?

No. DCIC said machine readable passports became invalid after 4 April 2022, whatever their expiry date 6.

Where do I apply for a Ugandan e-passport?

Online at www.passports.go.ug, then attend enrolment on the booked date 9.

What did the Auditor General say about the new IDs?

A report written in December 2022 said NIRA had no clear roadmap for the replacement 5.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@ugandaborderguide.com.

Sources

  1. National Identification and Registration Authority: home page (accessed 24 October 2026)
  2. Daily Monitor, Franklin Draku: Nira launches mass ID enrollment (6 May 2025)
  3. Daily Monitor, David Walugembe: Govt sets May 27 to start mass ID registration, renewal (14 May 2025)
  4. Daily Monitor, Sylvia Katushabe: NIRA faces staffing crisis as 5.4 million IDs await collection (8 September 2026)
  5. Daily Monitor, Precious Delilah and Priscilla Maloba: Govt may not be ready for new IDs, AG warns (18 April 2023)
  6. Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, via Uganda Embassy Washington: Phase out of machine readable passports (undated)
  7. The Observer, Aaron Gad Orena: Old passports are illegal now (5 April 2022)
  8. Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development: New E-Passport Launched at Uganda Mission, London (5 May 2022)
  9. Ministry of Internal Affairs: Press Statement: Interventions Undertaken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Improve Delivery of Immigration Services (26 April 2021)
  10. Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Shamilah Seyiga: How govt eased travels with e-passport at Entebbe Airport (19 February 2024)

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