The ongoing registration for Rwanda’s digital national identity card is gradually attracting more citizens as the exercise continues across different parts of the country.
At one registration centre in Remera, Gasabo District, dozens of residents gathered to complete the e-Indangamuntu process. Some waited patiently on benches while others stood in line as officials guided them through the procedure. Parents with young children were also among those attending the exercise.
Early days of the rollout reportedly saw fewer people showing up, but participation has since increased as awareness grows and residents learn more about the requirements.
According to The New Times, Alice Makeba Siwekirori, a supervisor at the Nyabisindu registration site, said the number of people coming for registration has continued to rise. “People now arrive early and keep coming until evening. Sometimes staff work until around 8 p.m. to serve everyone,” she said.
Officials say the registration itself is quick when citizens have all the required information ready. In many cases, however, extra time is needed when individuals discover errors in their personal records, such as incorrect birth dates or incomplete family details. These issues are corrected before the process can move forward.
The new digital ID system introduces additional biometric technology, including an iris scan. Authorities explain that other biometric features, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, were already part of the identification system used in Rwanda.
NIDA Director General Josephine Mukesha said the iris scan is the only new biometric feature added to the system, noting that most concerns raised by citizens have been addressed through public awareness.
Under the country’s Single Digital Identification Law, citizens are expected to use only one official identity issued by the government. Current national ID cards will gradually be replaced by the digital version, with the transition expected to be completed by June 2027.
Authorities say the digital identity will be accessible in several forms, including a physical card, a digital token, or simply a unique identification number that citizens can use when accessing services.
So far, more than two million people have already registered, and officials say thousands more continue to enroll each day as the nationwide exercise moves forward.
RADIOTV10
