The government has announced a one-year extension for approximately 15.8 million national IDs, set to expire between August 2024 and December 2025.

The State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, said the decision is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted services for Ugandans.

Gen. Muhoozi said this on August 15, 2024, while appearing before Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee.

The extension comes amidst the ongoing process of mass enrollment and renewal of new national IDs by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

According to Gen. David Muhoozi, the authority is facing challenges in delivering the new cards due to delays in the procurement of a national security system, which is crucial for the enrolment exercise.

He also noted that a legal instrument amending the relevant regulations was published on August 12, 2024.

“We needed to ensure business continuity and prevent unnecessary public anxiety. This extension will give us enough time to complete the new ID registration process without disrupting people’s lives,” Muhoozi said.

The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to streamlining the ID registration process and urged the public to cooperate with NIRA during the mass enrollment exercise.

This development comes as a relief to millions of Ugandans whose national IDs were nearing expiration, providing a temporary solution while the government works towards implementing the new ID system.