🔊 Gen. Elwelu cautions LC1s over endorsing strangers during ID renewal

________________

The head of monitoring government activities in the Teso and Karamoja regions, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, has cautioned Local Council One (LC1) chairpersons against endorsing unknown individuals, particularly herdsmen, during the ongoing nationwide mass enrolment and renewal of National Identity Cards (IDs).

Gen. Elwelu delivered the warning while overseeing the ID enrolment process in Soroti city.

He made the remarks shortly after renewing his own ID at his office on May 29, 2025.

The Balalo and Karamojong herdsmen have increasingly been seen in the Teso sub-region, often in search of grazing land and water for their livestock.

While urging all citizens to renew their National IDs due to their importance, Gen. Elwelu stressed that individuals identifying as herdsmen should undertake the renewal process in their respective ancestral areas.

Captain Joseph Kitumba, the District Registration Officer for Soroti, reported that in the past three days, 1,142 IDs had been renewed in Soroti District and 1,211 in Soroti City.

However, the target for both areas stands at 150,000. Despite experiencing rainfall and some technical difficulties, Capt. Kitumba noted a strong turnout at the registration centres.

By June this year, more than 15.8 million national IDs issued between 2014 and 2015 will have expired, leaving many Ugandans at risk of being unable to prove their citizenship.

The government has projected the cost of the exercise at approximately sh666.85 billion, with sh183 billion allocated for the procurement of new IDs, sh293 billion for technology and data centre equipment, and sh190.85 billion earmarked for paying the 13,864 workers involved in the operation.