By Haron Okwir
Otuke, Uganda | The Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Otuke, Isaac Opio Opeo, has urged residents to respond swiftly to the mass National Identity Card enrolment and renewal campaign launched by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).
The exercise, which officially began on Thursday, May 28, 2025, at the RDC’s office in Otuke, is part of a six-month nationwide campaign targeting both first-time registrations and renewals of expired or soon-to-expire national IDs.
It aims to register over 17.2 million new applicants and renew more than 15.8 million existing IDs across Uganda.
Opio Opeo, who is spearheading local mobilization efforts, called on residents within Otuke Town Council and surrounding areas to visit designated centres to either renew their documents or complete first-time registration.
He reaffirmed that the service is being provided free of charge and warned the public against any attempts at extortion by unauthorized individuals.
He noted that registration teams have already been deployed to various sub-counties in the district, where they are working closely with local leaders to ensure a smooth and inclusive exercise.
In addition to targeting Ugandan citizens, the Assistant RDC directed non-citizens residing in the district to report to the RDC’s office for identity verification.
Opio Opeo also credited the government under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for continuing to prioritize programs that directly benefit citizens, particularly in improving access to national services and enhancing data integrity.
The campaign is part of NIRA’s broader strategy to strengthen Uganda’s civil registration and national identification systems.
Authorities have emphasized the role of a national ID in accessing services such as health care, education, financial services, voting, and social protection programs.
The district-level launch in Otuke aligns with simultaneous rollouts in other parts of the country, with officials calling for maximum cooperation from the public to ensure a successful outcome.