Members of Parliament have been assured by the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, that citizens will not need to pay the usual fee of Shs50,000 to renew their National Identity Cards (IDs), except for those opting for express service.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, 13th February 2024, MPs expressed frustration over the slow process of ID renewal and issuance of new IDs, urging the government to allocate funds promptly to facilitate the process.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa stressed the urgency of the situation, noting the need to renew over 15.2 million IDs and enroll 17 million new IDs by June. He urged the ministry to start recruiting workers for the exercise despite the delay in funding.
Hon. Esther Mbayo, the Luuka District Woman Representative, said it is vital not to turn the ID card exercise into a revenue-generating venture.
MP Tonny Ayoo of Kwania County suggested that the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) should adopt more efficient systems similar to those used for renewing driving licenses.
MP David Mugole of Kabweri County raised concerns about errors in previous ID enrollments and urged NIRA to provide opportunities for correcting such mistakes during the mass renewal.
Legislators also called on NIRA to consider marginalized groups, such as persons with disabilities and indigenous communities, who face challenges in obtaining national IDs.
Minister Muhoozi assured MPs that despite the delays, procurement processes for ICT equipment have begun, and staff training in the new National Security Information System is underway in India.
He outlined plans to provide standby generators and solar panels to hard-to-reach districts to mitigate power outages during the ID renewal exercise. Additionally, each district will receive kits equipped with solar panels and connectivity devices to facilitate the process.