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Over 18.2 Million Ugandan Children without National Identification Numbers – NIRA
BY NAOME NAMUSOKE
Kampala, Uganda | May 5, 2025 — The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has disclosed that over 18.2 million Ugandan children under the age of 18 currently do not possess National Identification Numbers (NINs) — a staggering shortfall that officials warn could severely hinder national development.
NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo has made the revelation during a school-based sensitization campaign held at Kitante Hill School in Kampala. Addressing students, educators, and media, Kisembo has emphasized that the absence of NINs among the youth significantly affects the government’s ability to deliver essential public services.
“The absence of a National Identification Number among children directly affects the government’s ability to plan adequately for health, education, and other essential services,” she stated.
Uganda’s National ID system was launched in 2014, with the first batch of cards issued between 2014 and 2015. The initiative was designed to create a centralized national registry and streamline service delivery. However, ten years on, large gaps in coverage persist—particularly among children and adolescents.
In a move to close this gap, NIRA has launched a national school-based sensitization initiative. The campaign, themed “You Have a Name, But Do You Have a NIN?”, leverages student debates and civic engagement activities to promote early registration and legal identity awareness.
Kisembo has acknowledged that Ugandans have previously faced numerous obstacles in obtaining or renewing national IDs, including bureaucratic delays, system inefficiencies, and access limitations, especially in rural areas. However, she has offered a renewed assurance that the government has now allocated dedicated funding to enhance NIRA’s operations.
“We now have support from the government in terms of resources, and we are putting systems in place to improve service delivery and ensure that every Ugandan, especially our children, can be registered,” Kisembo added.
The campaign’s launch at Kitante Hill School was well received by education stakeholders and civic leaders. The school’s head teacher, Elizabeth Onen, has expressed her support for the initiative, calling it a vital step in empowering students to participate in national issues.
“Bringing students into national conversations like this helps them understand their role in shaping the country’s future. It’s empowering,” said Onen.
Meanwhile, Frank Mwebaze, Chief Adjudicator of the debate competition, highlighted the broader significance of the partnership between NIRA and the education sector.
“These conversations are not just educational—they are developmental. Civic awareness through schools is a critical tool in achieving long-term national objectives,” he remarked.
The NIRA campaign also aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for providing legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030. Uganda’s ability to meet this global target depends in part on initiatives like the current school-based outreach.
With over 18 million children still unregistered, NIRA’s campaign is not just timely—it is essential. The Authority hopes that early awareness and improved access will fast track the process of ensuring that every Ugandan child is counted, recognized, and legally identified.