The digital ID will be issued to Rwandans, refugees, and foreigners, NIDA’s Director General Mukesha Josephine announced on August 7, 2025, during the official launch of biometric data collection for the digital ID
She mentioned that this new ID will be having accurate information and the owner will be choosing what can be accessed depending on the service rendered.
She said “It doesn’t get lost and it’s not necessary that you walk with it, and it gives us the right to control what information to share and when, and even to stop sharing if necessary.”
She emphasized “the ID is not just for citizens but also for refugees, foreigners and even short-term migrants will get it depending on the service needed.”
We used to give it foreigners that are going to spend 6 months but now we are going to be giving it to everyone depending on the service they want.
She assured that the registration will reach to all citizens, including refugees and foreigners. Everyone is urged to participate because they will register from a talking child to an adult.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Bob Gakire, said the digital ID is timely: “It comes during Civil Registration Month, and it will help us improve how we serve citizens.”
A citizen named Zaninka Tufurahi who already registered for the digital ID told Imvaho Nshya that “based on what they explained, we liked it. No one will be penalized again for not carrying their ID. We’re happy about it.”
She recalled previously losing her ID and spending over 6,500 RWF and two months trying to replace it: “I once lost my ID; it was difficult, took me two months. I had to go to NIDA several times. They finally gave me one because we were about to vote for the President.”
After registration, photographing of citizens will begin in September 2025. So far, over 1,200 people have registered. The digital ID project is supported by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
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