By New Orleans, Louisiana, USA – September 2025 – The Embassy of Uganda in Washington, D.C., and the Uganda Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, in collaboration with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), have officially launched a mass registration exercise for Ugandans living in the United States. The campaign was unveiled during the 2025 Uganda North American Association (UNAA) Convention, held this year in New Orleans.
The initiative marks a major milestone in extending government services to Ugandans abroad, with national ID registration now made accessible to the diaspora community in the U.S.
A Strong Turnout in New Orleans
On the opening day of the exercise at the UNAA Convention, the joint team successfully registered more than 300 Ugandans. Lines of families and individuals could be seen eagerly awaiting their turn, underscoring the strong demand for national identification services abroad.
Organizers said the target during the registration drive is to enroll between 600 and 1,000 Ugandans while the NIRA team is stationed in the United States. With thousands of Ugandans living across America, the Embassy and Mission stressed that this is only the beginning of a broader outreach strategy.
Why the National ID is Essential
Uganda’s national ID has become an indispensable requirement for accessing nearly all government services, ranging from banking and SIM card registration to land transactions, voting, and healthcare. For Ugandans in the diaspora, having a valid national ID also eases the processing of consular documents, supports investment back home, and strengthens their legal recognition as citizens abroad.
“This exercise ensures that our brothers and sisters in the diaspora remain formally recognized and connected to their homeland,” an Embassy official noted. “Our diaspora plays a critical role in Uganda’s development, and providing this service affirms their place in the nation’s future.”
Extending Services Beyond UNAA
The Embassy and Uganda Mission announced that they are working closely with Ugandan associations across major U.S. cities to extend the reach of this registration effort beyond the UNAA Convention. Periodic NIRA outreach missions are being planned to make services more consistent and accessible for Ugandans abroad.
The exercise in New Orleans highlights the growing importance Uganda places on its diaspora community, which contributes billions in remittances annually and serves as cultural ambassadors worldwide.
Call to Action
Ugandans residing in the U.S. are urged to take advantage of the opportunity to register for their national IDs or update their records. Applicants are advised to bring supporting documents such as passports, birth certificates, or any prior official Ugandan identification to facilitate the process.
With over 300 people already registered at the New Orleans convention and hundreds more expected before the event concludes, the initiative is being hailed as a landmark step toward inclusive service delivery for Ugandans worldwide.
