National ID at Heart of Uganda’s Future, Kamuntu Says as Identity Expo Opens

What the report says

Uganda’s Internal Affairs Minister Ephraim Kamuntu said a reliable national identification system is central to the country’s planning, security, public service delivery and financial inclusion, as he opened the My Identity Expo and Symposium 2026 at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala. According to Nile Post, he spoke at the start of the three-day event, which brings together government agencies, development partners, technology experts and members of the public to discuss identity management and its role in governance and development.

Kamuntu said the National Identification and Registration Authority, or NIRA, has become increasingly important to Uganda’s socio-economic progress because accurate citizen data helps government plan more effectively. He also framed national identity as a broader development issue, saying unresolved questions about who qualifies as Ugandan remain despite the country marking a century since its present-day boundaries were established.

The minister’s remarks placed identity systems at the center of several public priorities, including access to services and the management of population data. In general, national ID programs are often linked to government efficiency, financial access and security, though that wider context is not unique to Uganda.

The expo is expected to feature exhibitions, panel discussions and public engagement on ways to strengthen Uganda’s identification system and improve service delivery.