A team from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) Uganda, headed by Lt. Col. Geoffrey Reagan Ruhinda, arrived in Mogadishu on 18th October 2025 to carry out National ID renewals and enrolments for Ugandan nationals—both civilian and military (UPDF)—serving and residing in Somalia.
On 19th October 2025, Lt. Col. Ruhinda, accompanied by Sector One Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Officer, Major Robert Nkwasibwe, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ambassador Professor Sam Tulya-Muhika, the Head of Mission at the Uganda Embassy in Mogadishu.
The Ambassador welcomed the team and commended NIRA for extending its services closer to Ugandans abroad. He noted that the Embassy had been receiving persistent inquiries about the possibility of conducting registrations in Somalia, emphasizing that the exercise would greatly benefit Ugandans stationed there.
Ambassador Tulya-Muhika also urged the team to consider reaching Ugandans in Forward Operating Bases and other cities outside Mogadishu to ensure inclusivity.
In response, Lt. Col. Ruhinda explained that NIRA has adopted a strategy aimed at registering Special Interest Groups (SIGs), ensuring that all Ugandans—including those deployed in special missions—have equal access to registration services. These groups include military and civilian personnel stationed in various regional operations across Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.
He highlighted that these individuals play critical roles in regional peacekeeping and national security, making it essential that their enrolment and renewal needs are met through a strategic and secure outreach approach.
The exercise has so far prioritized Embassy staff, Ugandans working with the United Nations, international agencies, and private security companies.
The NIRA team is expected to conclude the registration exercise in Somalia by 4th November 2025.
