Katakwi District Launches National Registration and Renewal Exercise

By Emmanuel Olinga

As Uganda prepares for the mass enrolment and renewal of National Identity Cards (ID) beginning today, May 27th, 2025, Katakwi Deputy Resident District Commissioner Vincent Savior Okwi has issued a harsh caution against swindling and politicking on the initiative.

He emphasized that collecting bribes from the public in order to renew IDS and register with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) will damage government programs and result in imprisonment.

During the launch at the NIRA offices on May 26, 2025, Okwi warned registration officers and members of the public against accepting bribes to facilitate registrations, since this could lead to the inclusion of unauthorized individuals.

The head of the district security committee stated that any officer caught engaged in such wrongdoing, regardless of status, will be arrested and prosecuted under Ugandan laws.

Irene Tumwa, District Registration Officer Katakwi, warned against fraud, absenteeism, and bad time management by employees. She asked the population to turn out in greater numbers for the exercise since it prioritizes effectiveness and performance.

She encouraged individuals to fully participate in the continuing exercise, which provides access to a variety of government initiatives, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and technical course options through the presidential hub.

Tumwa explained that throughout the four-month operation, Ugandans who have obtained National IDs should go to the specified registration stations with the necessary documentation, such as their old National IDs or police letters for those seeking replacements for missing IDs.

Geoffrey Omolo warned against politicizing the practice due to political seasons, which he believes may generate misunderstanding.

He also emphasized that the service is free of charge, therefore no one should deceive the public in the renewal process, demanding transparency.

Omolo is certain that they will complete the exercise, citing Katakwi’s ranking as one of the best performing districts in Uganda in recent National Health Programs.

Moses Ariatum Ojula, a client and resident of Odoot, Odoot parish in Palam sub county, Ngariam county, who successfully renewed his ID, applauded the government’s initiative to implement the national identity program.

According to Rosemary Kisembo, the Executive Director of NIRA, there are approximately 15.8 million ID cards set to expire in June 2025 that will be renewed, in addition to 17.2 million new IDs that will be issued to citizens who were unable to register during the initial enrolment period for various reasons.

Kisembo mentioned that there will be at least 10 registration kits available at each parish on registration day, though the exact number may vary based on district-specific circumstances.

The government anticipates that the entire process will incur costs of at least 666.85 billion shillings, with 183 billion allocated for the purchase of new IDs, 293 billion for technology and data center kits, and roughly shillings 190.85 billion set aside for compensating the 13,864 workers involved in the initiative.

By June of this year, more than 15.8 million National IDs issued between 2014 and 2015 will have expired, leaving many Ugandans struggling to prove their citizenship.

The renewal exercise which will run for 6-8 month effective from 26th May 2025 up to august on a daily basis starting at 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.