Rwanda’s National Identification Agency (NIDA) has opened registration for the country’s new national digital ID, part of the Single Digital Identification System (SDIS) project launched in 2023.
How it works
- The ID will exist in three formats: a physical card, a digital version, and a lifelong unique authentication number.
- The system will replace the current ID scheme, where citizens get new numbers for card replacements.
- An Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) will deduplicate records, enable real-time biometric identification, and support printing of the cards.
By the numbers
- Launch date: Nationwide registration began Aug. 7.
- Biometric capture: Starts mid-September, per NIDA Director General Josephine Mukesha.
- Budget: Estimated total cost — $38M.
- 2025–2026 allocation: ~$8.5M.
Why it matters
The digital ID is designed to:
- Streamline access to public and private digital services.
- Enhance national security.
- Give citizens more control over what personal information they share, and when.
What they’re saying
“It doesn’t get lost… and it gives us the right to control what information to share and when,” Mukesha told RadioTV10.
Zoom in
An ongoing international trade fair at Kigali’s Gikondo community center (until Aug. 17) is doubling as a registration point.
What’s next
- Nationwide sensitization campaigns to encourage participation.
- Withdrawal and phase-out of old ID cards once the new system is live in 2026.
Source: Biometric Update
