President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans in the Diaspora to invest back home and promote the country as a top tourist destination.

The First Deputy Katikkiro and Buganda Kingdom Finance Minister, Owek. Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, is this afternoon reading the Kingdom’s budget for the new financial year before the Buganda Lukiiko at Bulange Mengo.

With members of the Lukiiko, Kingdom ministers, county chiefs (abamasaza), and invited guests in attendance, Owek Nsibirwa is outlining the financial allocations and priorities that will guide the Kingdom’s operations and development programs in the coming year.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), has commended the army for its vital role in promoting peace and stability across Africa.

Speaking at the third graduation ceremony of the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U) in Buikwe District, Museveni praised the establishment of strategic institutions like NDC-U, which are equipping officers with critical knowledge in areas such as political economy, national defence, and Pan-Africanism.

He emphasized that understanding ideological, strategic, and economic fundamentals is key to preventing the mistakes that have led to instability in many African nations.

The President congratulated the 22 graduates of the National Security and Strategic Studies course, including two female officers and one civilian. He highlighted the UPDF’s ability to maintain peace at home and support regional stability in countries like Somalia, DRC, and South Sudan. 

NIRA launched the national ID preregistration portal, but the link is not an easy one to grasp here's is how you can get to it without necessarily scratching your head. 

Visit NIRA official website, https://nira.go.ug
on the menu, find Mass Enrolment and select any of the two dropdown menu. This will take you strait to the official preregistration of NIRA (https://prereg.nsis.nira.go.ug/pre-registration-ui/#/eng). I wish they'd made it shorter and easier to memorise, but either way thats how you can easily get there.

Another thing to know, the website is not mobile friendly, you can fully access its UI using a computer (Laptop or desktop), for the tech savvy, if you want to use your mobile phone's browser say chrome, you can tap the three dots and select Desktop site.

Now let me take you through the steps on how to preregister.

1. Select preference language
   - On the login page, click the language dropdown to see the list of languages
   - Select language of your preference
   Note: Field and button labels, error and information messages throughout the application will be displayed in the preferred language.
2. Login
   - On the Login page, enter your valid email ID or mobile number in the Email ID or mobile number text box.
   - Select the captcha field
   - Click Send OTP to receive a One Time Password (OTP) on your provided email address or mobile number.
   - Enter the OTP in the Enter OTP text box and Click Verify button.
   Note: In case you have not received OTP, click Resend to receive an OTP again. Enter the newly received OTP.
   When your OTP is verified, you can create, view, or modify your pre-registration application.
3. Select data capture language
    - A user logging in for the first time and having no applications will be prompted with a data capture language pop-up. - - The same set of languages will be used for the next set of applications created in the same session.
   - The language user selected in login screen will be pre-selected in the data capture language pop-up
   - The user can change this by clicking on the CHANGE DATA CAPTURE LANGUAGES button
   Note: This choice will be available only if the ID issuer has configured usage of optional languages.
4. Accept Terms & Conditions
   - On the Demographic Details page, you are advised to read the Terms and Conditions and select the check box to agree.
   - This agreement is to provide consent for the storage and processing of your personal information.
   - Click Accept to agree and then fill the demographic details.
   Note: User consent is mandatory for creating/updating applications. The contents will be displayed in all data capture languages
5. Fill Demographic Details
   - Fill out all your demographic details, which include Name, Age/DOB, Gender, Residential Status, Address, Mobile Number, Email Id, etc.
   Note: You can either enter your Age or enter your Date of Birth (DOB).
   You can also change or verify your demographic details in the second language on the right side.
   After you have filled and verified your demographic details, click Continue to upload your documents.
   Note: Field and button labels, error and information messages will be displayed in the user preferred language selected in login screen.
6. Upload Documents
   - On the Upload Documents page, select the document (e.g. Passport, Reference Identity Number, etc.) from the document drop-down list per applicable Document Category.
   - Click Browse to open a pop-up window to search the folder on your computer or removable drive where you have saved the scanned document.
   - Select the file that you want to upload.
   - When uploaded successfully, the document will appear on the right side. Verify that you have uploaded the correct document.
   - Repeat steps 1-4 to upload document for each applicable document category.
   - When adding an applicant, if a newly added applicant’s Proof of Address (POA) document is same as the existing user’s POA, who has already uploaded POA document, then click on the Same As option and select the name of the applicant.
   - When you complete upload of all the documents, click Continue to preview your application.
7. Preview the Data
   - On the Preview page, if you want to change your demographic details (Name, Age, etc.), click Modify at the top-right adjacent to the Demographic Details section, to go to the Demographic Details page and change the details as required.
   - To modify your uploaded documents, click Modify at the bottom-right adjacent to the Documents section, to go to the Upload Documents page and modify the uploaded document as required.
   - If you want to add a new applicant, click Add Applicant.
   Note: On clicking the Add Applicant option, you will be navigated to the Demographic Details page to provide Consent and proceed with providing the required demographic data/documents.
   - Click Book Now to book your appointment.
8. Choose a Registration Center
   - On the Book Appointment page, you can find a registration center through the three options as follows:
   Note: The recommended registration centers are automatically displayed based on your demographic details (Postal Code)
   -- Click Nearby Centers to view the registration centers based on your geographical location.
   -- Use the search box to find the registration center based on your search criteria.
   -- Click Recommended Centers to view registration centers based on your demographic details. (Postal Code)
   -- To modify your uploaded documents, click Modify at the bottom-right adjacent to the Documents section, to go to the Upload Documents page and modify the uploaded document as required.
   - If you want to add a new applicant, click Add Applicant.
9. Book an Appointment
   - The system displays the list of available calendar days with the number of available bookings. Select your preferred date.
   - The list of available time slots for your selected date is categorized between Morning and Afternoon. Select your preferred option.
   - Select your preferred time slot from the list.
   - Select the particular applicant name to book an appointment.
   Note: On clicking the Add Applicant option, you will be navigated to the Demographic Details page to provide Consent and proceed with providing the required demographic data/documents.
   - Verify the time slot(s) as selected against the applicant name(s).
   - Click Submit to view acknowledgment of your application.
10. View Acknowledgement
    - After successful completion of the Pre-registration application, you will receive an acknowledgment.
    - You can print, download, email or SMS your acknowledgment.
    -- To print your acknowledgement, click Print.
    -- To download your acknowledgement, click Download PDF.
    -- To add the additional recipient(s) to receive the acknowledgment of your application, follow these steps:
    --- Click Send Email/SMS.
    --- Enter the mobile number in the Enter mobile number text box and/or enter the email ID in the Enter email ID text box.
    --- Click Send to receive the acknowledgement on your provided e-mail address or mobile number.
    
    Congratulations, now you have completed the preregistration of your National ID, but it doesn't end here, you can make change to the form if need arises (modify form), re-book appointment and also cancel an appointment and discard an application if you wish.