Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, the government’s head of activity monitoring in the Teso and Karamoja regions, has cautioned Local Council I (LC1) chairpersons against endorsing individuals whose identities and origins are unclear—particularly Balalo and Karamojong pastoralists—during the ongoing mass National ID enrolment and renewal exercise.
During an inspection of registration centres in Soroti City, Gen. Elwelu stressed that all citizens must renew their National IDs from their places of origin—not from locations they have recently migrated to in search of pasture or water.
“The National ID is proof of citizenship. Let’s not issue it to people whose roots we can’t verify,” he stated after renewing his own ID.
His remarks come amid rising concerns among Teso residents about the long-term settlement intentions of nomadic groups, especially the Balalo and Karamojong. The warning also coincides with a low turnout in the registration exercise. Only 2,353 renewals have been recorded in Soroti District and Soroti City combined—far below the target of 150,000.
Despite technical challenges and weather disruptions, District Registration Officer Capt. Joseph Kitumba noted that progress is steady.
Nationwide, over 15.8 million National IDs issued between 2014 and 2015 are set to expire by June. The ongoing renewal and registration exercise, with a projected cost of UGX 666.85 billion, covers ID production, technical infrastructure, and compensation for more than 13,800 personnel.
The government is urging all eligible citizens to renew or register before the deadline to avoid disruptions in accessing essential services.
