Uganda’s Expired National IDs Still Valid for Travel and Business Transactions
In a recent press briefing, Simon Mundeyi, spokesperson for Uganda’s Internal Affairs Ministry, has clarified that Ugandan citizens with expired National IDs can still use them to travel across East Africa and for business transactions. This announcement has brought relief to many Ugandans who were worried about the fate of their expired IDs.
Mundeyi explained that Uganda has a tripartite agreement with East African countries, including Kenya and Rwanda, allowing citizens to travel to each other’s countries using their National IDs. He emphasized that the National ID’s NIN (National Identification Number) does not expire and is the most important feature on the ID. This means that Ugandans can continue to use their expired IDs for travel, processing passports, and opening bank accounts.
The mass registration and renewal of national IDs, which was initially scheduled to begin on June 1, has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. However, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has announced that the exercise will commence by the end of July.
This development is a significant relief for Ugandans who were concerned about the impact of expired IDs on their daily lives. With this clarification, they can now continue to use their IDs for travel and business transactions without any issues.
