Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, addressed the public on Monday to explain the government’s decision to introduce the digital identity cards known as Maisha cards.
One major concern surrounding the Maisha Card is the 10-year expiry date of the National ID cards. Bitok clarified that this renewal process is standard for IDs with digital chips in various countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal, and France. “Holders will need to renew their National ID cards every ten years. This is a standard practice in countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal, and France, among others that have implemented an ID with a microchip,” Bitok stated.
Applicants renewing expired National ID cards will not need to undergo fresh biometric registration. However, they will retake their passport-sized photos to account for changes in facial features over time.
Addressing concerns from civil society, Bitok emphasized that the Maisha ecosystem adheres to regional and international best practices for the standardization of personal registration documents, including the National ID Card. He also highlighted the cards’ compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements for cross-border identification documents.
The government cited several advantages of the Maisha cards:
- Enhanced Security: The cards include features that make them difficult to forge and tamper with.
- Digital Features: These enable the creation of a digital version of the National ID Card.
- Database Consolidation: The cards facilitate the creation of a master national register, eliminating the need for multiple separate personal registration records.
Regarding the current state of printing national IDs, Bitok confirmed that the National Registration Bureau had acquired a modern printer to enhance printing capacity.
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