The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has received a new shipment of high-tech equipment designed to enhance the efficiency of Uganda’s National ID printing process. The newly acquired four state-of-the-art card printing machines each have the capacity to produce up to 3,000 national identity cards per hour, significantly improving the processing speed.
According to NIRA, this acquisition is part of its preparations for the upcoming National ID mass enrollment and renewal exercise, which will be implemented at the parish level. The organization anticipates that these advanced machines will drastically reduce the turnaround time for ID processing, ensuring a more efficient and reliable system for Ugandan citizens.
Previously, NIRA received over 5,000 registration kits, which have been crucial in the technical training of all client-facing staff, including Registration Assistants and Registration Officers. The ongoing technological advancements demonstrate NIRA’s commitment to improving service delivery in the national identification process.
Uganda’s first batch of national identity cards was issued between 2014 and 2015, with their validity set for ten years. As a result, millions of these IDs expired in 2024 and 2025. The government recently extended the expiry period for an additional year to allow for a smooth transition into the mass renewal exercise. At least 15.8 million national identity cards are set to expire by August 2025, making the renewal process a crucial national exercise.
With these technological upgrades, NIRA aims to streamline the registration and issuance of National IDs, reinforcing its dedication to providing timely and reliable identification services to Ugandans.