NIRA Uganda Launches National ID Amendment Service | Official Changes Now Allowed Nationwide
- Afri Careers
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA Uganda) has officially launched its long-anticipated National ID amendment service, allowing Ugandan citizens to legally update or correct their personal information on national identity cards.
In a press briefing, NIRA Uganda Registrar Claire Ollama confirmed the nationwide rollout of this service. “On this 21st day of July, I am pleased to inform all Ugandans that the national ID amendment service is now officially available at all district NIRA offices,” Ollama declared.
Registrar Ollama clarified that NIRA Uganda will only handle ID amendment and renewal applications at district-level offices—not at parish or local centers. “If you’re renewing your ID with changes, you must go to the nearest district NIRA office,” she stressed.
This move is intended to streamline operations and ensure proper verification of all submitted changes.
Under the updated NIRA Uganda system, certain personal details on a national ID can be modified—under specific conditions:
Name changes due to marriage, religion, or personal reasons are permitted, provided applicants present valid documentation and pay a statutory fee of UGX 200,000, payable through the Uganda Revenue Authority.
Clerical or administrative errors—such as misspelled names or swapped birth dates—can be corrected free of charge if NIRA is at fault.
Fingerprint updates may be done in cases of fading due to age or damage from external factors like chemical use.
However, Registrar Ollama emphasized that NIRA Uganda will not entertain fraudulent or unjustified changes, especially concerning age. “You can only be born once,” she affirmed. “This is not an exercise for people who now want to feel 15 years after being 20 last year. We are documenting facts, not feelings.”
In a stern warning, NIRA Uganda addressed the growing trend of applicants attempting to alter their age for personal gain—particularly to meet age requirements for driving permits or employment.
Ollama highlighted cases where individuals try to fraudulently claim they are older to qualify for commercial driving jobs. “If Hajji bought you a tipper and now you want to adjust your age to get a permit—this is not your service,” she cautioned.
Only genuine errors in birth dates, such as an interchange of the day and month, will be considered for correction.
To apply for an amendment with NIRA Uganda, follow these steps:
Visit a NIRA district office in person.
Fill the correct form:
Form 1 for updates to personal information (e.g., name changes)
Form 1A for corrections of clerical errors
Present required documentation for the intended changes.
Undergo a biometric update, including new photographs and fingerprint scans.
Surrender your old ID when receiving a new card (if applicable).
Citizens are reminded that under Section 64 of the Registration of Persons Act, any changes or corrections must be reported to NIRA Uganda within 90 days of discovery.
Registrar Ollama concluded with a firm message: “At NIRA Uganda, we are not in the business of making you comfortable—we are here to document the truth.” She added, “We urge all applicants to come forward only if they have legitimate reasons to amend their records. This is not the service for those with hidden agendas.”
The launch of this ID amendment service underlines NIRA Uganda’s commitment to serving the people while safeguarding the integrity of the national identification system.
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