Ugandans Encouraged to Register for National ID Cards Ahead of 2026 Elections
By The Public Lens
As Uganda gears up for the 2026 elections, the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) is urging citizens to register for national ID cards.
With only 27.4 million Ugandans currently registered, NIRA is encouraging those who have never registered sign up.
NIRA Executive Director, Rosemary Kisembo, emphasized that registration is crucial for participation in the electoral process.
“Whoever seeks to participate in the 2026 electoral process must be registered during the upcoming registration exercise,” she said.
Although the mass registration exercise has been delayed, Kisembo encouraged Ugandans to register early.
“Even before we start the new process, we encourage those who want to be part of the 2026 voting process to get an ID now,” she added.
Kisembo also urged parents to register their children early, ideally a month after birth, to ease NIRA’s operations.
By law, every Ugandan is entitled to a national identification number, regardless of age.
The mass registration exercise, initially set to start in June, aims to address the gap of unregistered citizens.
NIRA is waiting for essential equipment to arrive before commencing the exercise.
With the Electoral Commission’s recent announcement of the election roadmap, NIRA is working to submit the register by November 30, 2024.
Kisembo’s message is clear: register now to avoid missing out on the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
