GOVERNMENT TO START DIGITAL ID REGISTRATION NEXT YEAR

Government will next year commence registration for the digital national identity cards as the old ones are to expire in 2024.

“As you know, 2024 will be ten years since the old mass enrollment exercise took place. So 2024 we shall migrate from the current national ID to a new upgraded and more user-friendly national identity card” Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire Minister of Internal Affairs explained.

The development comes as Uganda will commemorate civil registration and vital statistic day on 10th August this year.

The government is planning to spend between five hundred billion (UGX 500 billion) to UGX 600 billion on this process.

Addressing the media yesterday, Minister of Internal Affairs , Gen Kahinda Otafiire said the money would be used to acquire high-tech appliances that  will make better national IDs having a chip that is able identify people’s eyes and recognise their DNA as well.

 “But, I can assure you that there will be improvements including possibly DNA and iris scan data.” Major General Kahinda Otaffire assured.

The minister for internal affairs, Gen Kahinda OtafIire reaffirmed that registration is free however express registration will cost fifty thousand shillings.

 “The renewal of IDs will be free but those that want to do express registration, will have to pay Shs50,000,” Gen Otafiire said. 

In the roll out for registration of digital ids next year, government plans to extended registration to the village level.

Ugandans have occasionally complained about delayed ids though the minister for internal affairs Gen Kahinda Otafiire blames it change in the service provider