The large-scale renewal of national identity cards is set to commence in May 2025, according to the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi.
Muhoozi made the announcement while responding to the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee’s report on the ministry’s policy statement and budget projections for the 2025/2026 financial year. The committee’s report was presented by Chairperson Wilson Kajwengye on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
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“We plan to begin with a pilot targeting government workers, starting with personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA),” Muhoozi said.
He added that the necessary software and equipment for the exercise have already been tested and are ready to deploy. A detailed report on the renewal and registration process will be provided soon.
The update came in response to concerns raised by MP Milton Muwuma (NRM, Kigulu County South), who emphasized the urgency of the renewal process with the 2026 general elections approaching. “Nominations are coming up, and some of us have expired IDs—this could disqualify potential candidates,” he warned.
Hon. Isaias Ssasaga (FDC, Budadiri County East) sought clarity on learners in primary and secondary schools who registered for IDs but are yet to receive them. He asked whether they would be part of the new registration or receive the previous version.
In reply, Muhoozi said the students will have a choice between the older version of the ID and the newer version, which comes with upgraded features.
The committee’s report indicated that the government needs Shs145 billion to purchase blank ID cards to register over six million new applicants and renew more than five million existing IDs. However, only Shs24.5 billion has been allocated for the upcoming financial year.
To bridge this gap, the committee recommended allocating an additional Shs120.7 billion in the 2025/2026 budget to enable NIRA to complete the enrollment exercise in time for the 2026 elections.
Additionally, the committee proposed allocating Shs587 billion to roll out the sub-county policing model nationwide. The Uganda Police Force had previously piloted this initiative in the Greater Masaka area during the 2023/24 financial year.
Over Shs5 billion has already been allocated for constructing 30 model police stations, completing 11 others in Greater Masaka, and purchasing 333 motorcycles along with communication gear. However, a shortfall of Shs587 billion still exists.
Luwero Woman MP Brenda Nabukenya welcomed the sub-county policing model, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that each station receives two motorcycles and sufficient fuel.
Emely Kugonza (NRM, Buyanja East County) supported the model but expressed concerns about its planning, pointing out a lack of police posts and officer accommodation. “Without proper planning, our officers may become more of a problem than a solution,” he warned.
Other lawmakers highlighted the issue of inadequate transportation at existing police stations. MP Frank Kabuye (NUP, Kassanda County South) noted that Kassanda District has only one emergency response vehicle.
He urged the government to prioritize transportation needs and include maintenance funds for vehicles and motorcycles.
In response, Minister Muhoozi revealed that the government is considering introducing electric motorcycles to address fuel challenges.
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