National ID distribution resumes

KIGALI - Distribution of the new electronic national identity cards has resumed after it was slowed down by the recent Parliamentary elections, Pascal Nyamurinda, the National Identity Card Project, told The New Times in a telephone interview yesterday. According to Nyamurinda, the ID distribution exercise in the Western Province will resume in the next two weeks or even earlier. “We are remaining with two Districts in the Western Province which I think will be done in the next two weeks then the exercise will head to the Northern Province and finally the Eastern Province,” he explained. He added that the IDs for the Eastern Province are now in production and the work is expected to be over in the next two weeks. “Production is going faster than distribution; production will be done in two weeks time. We are remaining with production of four districts cards, namely; Ngoma, Rwamagana, Nyagatare and Gastibo,” Nyamurinda explained. About 5,300,000 people reportedly registered for the IDs and over 3,800,000 cards have been distributed to their owners. The project which is to cost US$18 million was funded entirely from tax revenue. The exercise was launched mid July by President Paul Kagame in Nyarugenge district. There will be another round of photography to cater for those who could have missed out in the earlier exercise. Ends