President Yoweri Museveni has asked Ugandans that have not yet registered for the national IDs to do so urgently to help in planning for general elections.
He was last evening launching the ID issuance exercise at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The president said the project is a strategic investment that will help improve service delivery in the country.
He further said it would help stop vote rigging, theft of government funds among many other benefits.
Meanwhile, issuance of national IDs starts today in Kampala.
At the launch of the exercise yesterday, the national project coordinator Gen. Aronda Nyakairima said 16 million out of the targeted 18 million people had so far been registered.
Meanwhile 7 people got their IDs yesterday including the president, First Lady Janet Museveni, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the first Deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura and Head of Public Service John Mitala.
The rest of the Ugandans are expected to pick their ID cards from the parishes where they registered.