Kamuntu at the URA tent in Kololo yesterday. The Expo and Symposium will end tomorrow, Thursday.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, has pledged the ministry’s full support to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) as it works to register 100% of Uganda’s population by 2030.
NIRA has registered 36.2 million people, representing 78.8% of Uganda’s population. The Authority aims to register the entire population within the next four years, in line with Sustainable Development Goal Target 16.9, which calls for legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030.
Speaking at the opening of the My Identity Expo and Symposium 2026 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Musanyufu assured NIRA of the ministry’s support.
“We shall do whatever is necessary for you to meet your tasks,” Musanyufu said.
NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo said the Authority was committed to ensuring that every Ugandan is registered and has access to legal identity by 2030.
However, Benny Namugwanya, the vice chairperson of the NIRA Board, said achieving universal registration would require cooperation among government institutions, communities and other stakeholders.
“Identification remains fundamental to human dignity,” Namugwanya said. “A national ID is more than just a card and a number. Achieving universal identity can’t be achieved by NIRA alone but through collaborations.”
Namugwanya acknowledged that many Ugandans continue to face challenges when seeking national identification documents. She called for the barriers to registration to be addressed and urged NIRA to strengthen public awareness about the registration process and the importance of national identification.
“Every person has a right to be identified,” she said, adding that NIRA must ensure registration services are accessible to all eligible Ugandans.
Presiding over the event as chief guest, Minister of Internal Affairs Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu said the government relies on accurate population data to plan and allocate public resources.
“Unless you have accurate data, the State can’t plan. To allocate resources for the intended beneficiaries, you need accurate data,” Kamuntu said.
He directed the Permanent Secretary to address NIRA’s human resource gap and secure a permanent headquarters for the Authority, saying stronger institutional capacity would be essential to achieving the 2030 registration target.
The symposium brought together government officials, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss the importance of legal identity, progress in national registration and the remaining challenges to achieving universal coverage.
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