The Mufti of Uganda, Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, has called on all Ugandans, regardless of their religious affiliations, to actively participate in the ongoing national ID renewal and mass enrolment exercise.
Mufti Mubajje made the appeal on Wednesday as he renewed his national identity card at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters in Old Kampala.
Speaking after the exercise, the Mufti emphasized the importance of the national ID, describing it as a critical document for confirming Ugandan citizenship and accessing essential services.
“A national ID is very crucial. It affirms that one is a Ugandan and enables access to important services. Without it, you may be denied what you need,” Mubajje said. “Even when you travel abroad, the national ID represents your identity as a Ugandan.”
He also highlighted the role of the national ID in enhancing national security, especially in the wake of rising terrorism threats.
He cited the recent bomb explosion at Munyonyo during the Uganda Martyrs Day celebration as an example of why proper identification is necessary.
“In times of threats like terrorism, it is easier to identify and screen individuals using their national IDs,” he added.
Mufti Mubajje commended the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) for upgrading to advanced technology in the current renewal exercise.
He noted that the new system captures detailed biometric features such as fingerprints, iris scans, and digital signatures, making forgery more difficult and boosting national security.
“I’ve renewed my national ID, and I’m impressed with the new technology. It’s accurate and secure—capturing the eyes, fingerprints, and signatures that are hard to duplicate,” he said.
The national ID renewal exercise officially commenced on May 27, 2025, following a successful pilot phase conducted from May 2 to May 26, 2025.
To ease the process, NIRA has introduced an online pre-registration system that allows Ugandans to fill in their personal details online before visiting a registration center for biometric data capture.
The innovation aims to make the process faster and more convenient for all citizens.
