About 20 Ugandans had by Monday afternoon received their National Identity cards.
A sample of the national identity cards that are going to be distributed beginning today.
Government rolled out the issuance of 30, 000 National identity cards to Ugandans aged between 16 years and above starting with Kampala.
Ugandans who are residents of Kololo 1, 2, 3 and 4 parishes were seen queuing to receive their cards. For one to get the card, he or she must present proof that he is a Ugandan.
Other districts Buyende in eastern Uganda, Kasese also found in western Uganda, Lira in the north and Kampala.
The distribution of cards has started with Kampala and thereafter will be rolled out to other identified districts.
According to a letter signed by the director citizenship and immigration control Godfrey Sasaga Wanzira to parliament‘s internal affairs committee, the distribution of 30,000 cards to the four districts, will work as a pilot scheme before the exercise can be extended to cover the entire country.
“The distribution of these cards will therefore start in Kampala, on Monday, 15 July, 2013 and subsequently, to other pilot districts. The pilot scheme will pave way for the eventual national wide identity cards issuance to all citizens aged 16years old and above, by January, 2016,” read the letter tabled before the parliament’s committee on defense and internal affairs.
The letter which was tabled by the committee chairperson Benny Namugwanya Bugembe was sent to the committee among other stakeholders on July, 9 2013.
“In Kampala the exercise will start with Kololo parish, they will call out Ugandans aged between 16 years and above and they will be issued with the Identity cards. The exercise will be done by the directorate of citizenship and immigration control together with local leaders,” explained Namugwanya.
By Henry Sekanjako, The New Vision
