The National Identification and Registration Authority of Uganda (NIRA) is in a crisis mode as it struggles to carry out the mass renewal and registration of National Identity Cards (IDs). With the initial IDs already expired and extensions to registrants having been given, NIRA’s ability to issue new IDs in time for the 2026 elections remains hopelessly in the balance. An incident report has now validated stunning deficits in planning, staffing, and finance, and questions have been raised about the agency’s preparedness and the potential disenfranchisement of Ugandan citizens by millions. The problems are rampant and entrenched.

NIRA had originally budgeted Shs600.17 billion to conduct the renewal and registration of IDs, whose financial outlay was anticipated to stretch over the 2022/23 and 2023/24 budget periods. It only managed to secure Shs262.05 billion, and so NIRA has been left with a humongous funding gap of Shs338.12 billion—56% of what it needed. The deficit has severely held back NIRA in budgeting for the exercise. Shs38.06 billion is the only amount spent so far, and the majority of the available funds, Shs223.99 billion, are tied up in letters of credit for yet to be delivered registration equipment and systems. The shortage of funds is half the problem. NIRA is also experiencing a severe shortage of personnel.

The agency had planned to employ 13,787 casual workers to address the huge number of processing millions of ID applications. But till December 2024, just 25 have been appointed. While 11,595 have cleared final interviews, they still await appointment letters, and 2,192 posts are lying completely vacant. This man-power crisis seriously questions NIRA’s ability to manage the expected deluge of applications, leading to lengthy delays and frustrated citizens. The second outstanding problem is the lack of a clear plan to register Ugandans in the diaspora.

While NIRA had provided some embassy-based registration kits for early registration, there is neither budget nor deadline to complete the process. Otherwise, tens of thousands of Ugandans in the diaspora risk missing out on the 2026 elections. Not only would this undermine the credibility of the elections, but also disenfranchise a majority of the nation. The Auditor General has stepped in, requesting NIRA’s Accounting Officer to put in place follow-up mechanisms for unused funds and speed up recruitment personnel. The government has also been requested to implement a holistic program with the resources allocated to allow Ugandans abroad to register in good time.

However, time is running out, and if nothing is done immediately, the outcome could be catastrophic. The stakes are high. Unless NIRA solves these problems—funding, slow procurement, lack of personnel, and lack of a diaspora registration system—the exercise of renewing IDs in large numbers will be significantly set back. This would not just disrupt the election process but lead to logistic jams that will undermine the integrity of the 2026 elections.

Millions of Ugandans will lose their valid IDs, and it will be difficult for them to vote or access important services. The crisis is an eye-opener for the government and all the stakeholders. The 2026 elections are not far away, and NIRA’s capacity to issue new IDs in time is paramount to having a free, fair, and inclusive electoral process. Action needs to be taken with speed to fill the gaps in funding, accelerate the recruitment of staff, and implement a clear strategy for registering Ugandans in foreign countries. Meanwhile, the future of NIRA’s mass ID renewal initiative is in limbo.

The challenges are high, but not insurmountable. With effective leadership, finances, and political will, NIRA is still capable of fulfilling its mandate and having every Ugandan with an ID before the 2026 elections. Time is running out, and it is time to get serious. The crisis is a testament to the significance of proper planning and adequate resource allocation in key national projects. It is also a reminder that transparency and accountability are key principles in the administration of public resources. As the country heads toward the 2026 elections, the world anticipates NIRA to rise up and deliver on a credible and representative ID renewal exercise. The nation is on the lookout, and the risk is greater than ever.