KAMPALA, Uganda — A two-day inter-school debate competition focused on the importance of national identification concluded May 6 at Kitante Hill School in Kampala, with organizers urging young people to participate in an upcoming mass enrollment drive.

The 2025 NIRA Schools Debate, hosted by media personality Pamela Malaika, was organized by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports and Debate Society Uganda.

More than 20 secondary schools from across Uganda took part, including Nyakasura School, Bweranyangi Girls, Muni Girls Secondary School, St. Henry’s College Kitovu, Sebei College Tegeres, and Mbale Secondary School. Students debated motions related to NIRA’s mass enrollment and renewal campaign, which begins May 27. Topics included whether schools should only admit NIRA-registered students and if replacing lost or damaged national IDs should be free.

Rosemary Kisembo, NIRA’s executive director, stressed the need for youth involvement in the registration process. She noted that 18.2 million Ugandans, a majority under 17, are not yet registered. “A National Identification Number (NIN) is a gateway to education, healthcare, employment, and full participation in our nation’s growth,” Kisembo said. “We urge every young person, parent, and guardian to take this exercise seriously as we prepare for this historic enrollment.”

Internal Affairs State Minister Gen. David Muhoozi echoed this, highlighting the government’s commitment to comprehensive registration. He said the students’ engagement demonstrated that “Uganda’s youth are not just future leaders—they are active change-makers today.” He added that as NIRA prepares to register 17.2 million new applicants and renew 15.8 million expired IDs, students are expected to be “ambassadors of this initiative” in their communities.

The debate also highlighted that only 5.2 million children aged 0-17 are registered with NIRA, leaving nearly 70% without legal identification. To address this, NIRA acquired 5,665 biometric registration kits, delivered in January, and two high-capacity card printing machines capable of producing 100,000 IDs daily.

Organizers said the debate served as a platform to encourage youth participation before the mass enrollment. The Ministry of Education and Sports integrated the debate into the curriculum to emphasize the importance of national identification. Debate Society Uganda helped ensure a high standard of discussion among students from various regions.

NIRA is urging all citizens, especially parents and guardians, to register their children. The authority also called on community leaders, schools, and local officials to support awareness campaigns, emphasizing that a National ID is a fundamental right that provides access to opportunities.

Participating Schools: Abim Secondary School (ABIM), Bukedea Comprehensive School (BUKEDEA), Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School (BUSHENYI), Kitante Hill SS (WAKISO), Mbale Secondary School (MBALE), Muni Girls Secondary School (ARUA CITY), Nyakasura School (KABAROLE), Ocer Campion Jesuit College (GULU), Sebei College (KAPCHORWA), St. Henry’s College Kitovu (MASAKA).