NIRA to include iris biometrics in new National IDs

The National Identification registration authority (NIRA) is to commence the national wide registration for IDs across the country, in 10,717 parishes of Uganda for a period of ten months.

According to the authority which is mandated to create, manage, maintain and operationalise the National Identification Register, the exercise will involve both mass enrolment and renewal of IDs for different citizens.

Rosemary Kisembo the NIRA Executive Director, explained that the exercise will cover every piece of ground in Uganda, thus prompting the authority to commence early sensitization of the general public.

Besides the face and 10 fingers which NIRA has currently as the only biometric features, Kisembo stressed that with new National ID’s an Iris will be added.

She said, “We are increasing the biometrics on the register for inclusivity so that if your fingerprints are damaged at least your iris will help us uniquely identify you. Every Ugandan is entitled to one National Identification Number,”

“In the next few weeks and months, we shall answer questions on what is mass enrolment, why must we have mass enrolment, when will it take place, and where will it take place. We shall also answer questions around citizenship, why we are adding more biometrics and all those aspects around mass enrolment that are important for every citizen,” she said.

Kisembo added that the exercise will however involve first tracking all persons above the age of 16 because NIRA’s register is an input into the voters register.

She noted that they have a task to onboard every Ugandan onto the National Identification register, as according to Section five of NIRA’s act which mandates them to create, manage, and maintain a national identification register.

“In part one, we keep all citizens and in part two we keep all aliens; the law calls them aliens but these are non-citizens who are legally living within the borders of this country. We are supposed to give them an Alien Identification Number,”

According to NIRA, every Ugandan regardless of age, sex, religion, background, occupation or clan is entitled to a National Identification Number whereas every Ugandan above the age of 16 years is entitled to a national identification card.

However, Kisembo further stressed that Ugandans above 16, by September or November need to have all of them on the register, saying that, “The voters register is prepared 2 years before the voting exercise so people who are 16 will be eligible to vote in 2026,”

Section 54 of the Registration of Persons Act (ROPA) 2015, provides for compulsory registration with NIRA of all citizens of Uganda resident in or outside Uganda.

NIRA indicates that renewing and enrolling is free of charge.Express services for those who would like to receive the card within 48 hours will attract a fee.

However, while appearing before the Parliamentary Defense and Internal Affairs Committee in 2022, internal affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire said an express ID would cost Shs 50,000, same as replacement of a lost one.