The Minister of State for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi has said the revision for fees for National Identity Cards renewal was proposed for only changes relating to correction of Dates of Birth and not all other changes as was misreported in the media.
Muhoozi was this week responding to a question raised by Hon Semakula Luttamaguzi regarding the hiking of fees for the renewal of National Identity Cards from Shs50,000 to Shs.500,000.
“This proposal is still subject to consideration by Government and all the stakeholders, including this honorable House, and therefore has not been approved and effected,” Muhoozi told plenary.
The National Identification & Registration Authority (NIRA) suggested an increment of application fees for citizens who seek to change dates of birth where the “error’ was made by the card bearers.
The background to this proposal is premised on the surge of applications ranging between 1000-5000 a month with 85% of applicants requesting for the adjustment to match the 25 – 38 age bracket.
Members asked the Minister to explain to Ugandans what government plans to do for Ugandans who got their IDs at the start of the program and their IDs will be expiring on the 2nd of December 2024.
Wakiso Woman MP Betty Ethel Naluyima called for a comprehensive program on the renewal process.
MPs say a charge of 50,000 is high for the many Ugandans.
Muhoozi said NIRA is working on a program for the mass renewal and promised to return to the House next week with a comprehensive report.