As the Ugandan government ramps up plan to provide new or renew expiring national ID for its 30 million citizens, the country is adding a new twist with an iris biometrics.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) says it is adding the iris biometrics as an enhanced security feature for its national ID.
The Iris biometrics captures the unique patterns in the card holder’s eye’s coloured ring. Similar to fingerprints, each individual’s iris possesses a distinct and highly stable pattern, making it incredibly difficult to forge.
Uganda is not the first country to pull this move. Malawi began incorporating iris scans into its national ID system in 2016. Similar to Uganda, this move aimed to enhance security and prevent fraud. Other African countries utilizing iris recognition in their ID systems include Morocco, Benin, and Zimbabwe.
The new national IDs which serve as a travel document within the East African region will be valid for a 10 year period.
The NIRA will begin enrolling users into the new system as from June 1, 2024, and will wrap up the process by January 2025.
