NIRA Overwhelmed as Citizens Rush to Register for National IDs
Long queues and frustration mark the reopening of National ID registration centres KAMPALA – The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has resumed mass registration for National Identity Cards, but the process has been marred by overwhelming crowds and operational challenges.
Citizens from across the country have flocked to NIRA offices, with many forced to wait for hours in long, disorderly queues. At the Nakawa Division office, elderly persons, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and youth were seen stranded, with no special consideration given to vulnerable groups.
NIRA staff appeared visibly overstretched, struggling to manage the large crowds efficiently. Some frustrated applicants were seen giving up and leaving after enduring the exhausting wait.
 
Ronald Ndolimana, NRM Youth Chairperson for Nakawa Division, and Godfrey Luyombya, Nakawa Division Spokesperson, urged young people to endure the process, warning that failure to acquire National IDs would lock them out of critical government programs.
 
Local leaders have appealed to NIRA to deploy more staff and streamline operations to reduce congestion. "The current situation is unsustainable. NIRA must act fast to decongest these centres," Luyombya added.
As Uganda pushes for increased digital and financial inclusion, the National ID remains a vital document. However, unless NIRA addresses the current bottlenecks, thousands risk exclusion from essential services.
