In an attempt to enhance the security of the nation’s identification system, the Ugandan government is incorporating the use of Iris biometrics.
According to the Ugandan National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), adding iris biometrics to the identification system is to enhance security and reduce the likelihood of forgery.
The reason for this security initiative is that the new national IDs serve as a travel document within the East African region, and it’s important to know if the person(s) leaving the country or entering it is genuine or not. In addition, the ID serves for 10 years if not misplaced or destroyed.
Fortunately, Uganda will not take the title of the first country to incorporate this initiative into its identification system. For over eight years until date, the Malawi government has been utilizing this strategy in their identification process, including Morocco, Benin, and Zimbabwe.
How does the Iris Biometrics work?
What the iris capture does is capture the unique patterns in the colored area of your eye. Just like fingerprints, every human has a unique iris pattern specific to him or her, meaning that it is close to impossible to forge.
Thus making it a very secure and stable form of identification.
According to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), registration or enrollment of users for the new ID will commence on June 1 and end by January 2024.
However, considering the population, which stands at 45.85 million, the deadline would need to be extended. This is except if the process is simply by allowing users to register the citizens of to register on their own.
