More than 70,000 national identity cards are still lying uncollected at National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) offices in Kamwenge District, more than a year after the mass renewal exercise began.
Stuart Oyo, the Kamwenge District Registration Officer, said more than 90,000 residents were registered during the mass renewal exercise, but only about 20,000 have so far collected their national identity cards. Oyo said NIRA is now taking services closer to residents by moving operations to the sub-county level, particularly in areas where residents face challenges travelling to the district headquarters.
He said the move is intended to make it easier for residents to collect their identity cards and access other NIRA services. Oyo added that the renewal of national identity cards is still ongoing across different sub-counties in Kamwenge District. He urged residents who do not have national identity cards to register, saying the documents are important for accessing various government services.
Gerald Musinguzi, a resident of Kabuga Sub-county, said some residents have simply failed to collect their cards despite their importance. He welcomed the decision to take NIRA services to the sub-county level, saying it would help residents who cannot afford transport to the district headquarters.
The mass enrolment exercise for the renewal of national identity cards started in May 2025, and residents are being encouraged to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to obtain or renew their national identity cards-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
