Kampala, Uganda – The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced that all services in Uganda will soon be linked to the National Identification Number (NIN), signaling a significant shift in how citizens access both public and private services.
Brigadier General Johnson Namanya Abaho, the Commissioner of Citizenship and Passport Control, made the statement during a stakeholders’ meeting in Entebbe earlier this week. The meeting brought together leaders from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), ministry officials, district security officers, and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) from over 15 districts in the Kampala Metropolitan area.
Namanya emphasized that this policy aims to streamline service delivery, enhance security, and curb fraud by ensuring that all citizens are registered and identifiable within a centralized system.
“The National ID is the backbone of our identification framework. From healthcare to banking, education to utilities, it will soon be the key to accessing everything,” he stated.
This move is part of Uganda’s broader efforts to digitize government operations and improve efficiency. Since the National ID system was introduced in 2014, millions of Ugandans have been registered. However, challenges such as delays in issuance, lost cards, and registration bottlenecks have persisted, leaving some citizens without access to crucial services.
The Ministry has not provided a definitive timeline for full implementation but urged citizens to ensure their National IDs are valid and up to date to avoid inconveniences.
“Those without a National ID or with expired cards will face difficulties. Therefore, as we roll out this process, I urge all Ugandans to ensure they have valid IDs,” Namanya cautioned.
To address the gaps in ID coverage, the government has pledged to launch awareness campaigns and mobile registration drives across the country. These initiatives aim to ensure that all eligible citizens obtain their IDs and are prepared for the transition.
As Uganda moves towards a fully digitized service framework, the reliance on the National ID is expected to become more pronounced, affecting key sectors including finance, education, and healthcare. The announcement has sparked widespread discussion, with many Ugandans expressing concerns over potential exclusion for those who struggle to obtain or replace their IDs.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reassured the public that measures will be taken to make the transition smooth and inclusive, encouraging all citizens to participate in the upcoming mass registration exercise.
