NIRA registers over 1,400 civil marriages in six months

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The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has taken full control of marriage registration in Uganda, following the transfer of the Department of Civil Registration and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to NIRA on October 1, 2024.

Speaking to journalists at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala on Monday, Charles Nsimbi, a senior official from NIRA, revealed that 1,457 civil marriages have been registered in the last six months under the Directorate of Civil Registration.

“Since October last year, when marriage registration was officially moved to NIRA, we have recorded the following: 130 marriages in October, 247 in November, 195 in December, 278 in January, 220 in February, 180 in March, and 207 in April,” Nsimbi said.

He noted that NIRA now oversees the registration of civil, Christian, Islamic, and Hindu marriages, adding that civil marriages are particularly popular among young professionals due to their efficiency, affordability, and global recognition.

“All you need for a civil marriage is a couple, two witnesses, proof of registration with NIRA, and a fee of sh260,000. That’s it. It’s faster and cheaper than most traditional or religious alternatives,” Nsimbi noted.

The civil marriage ceremonies are currently conducted at the Uganda Business Facilitation Centre, located at Plot 1 Baskerville Avenue, Kampala, under the Directorate of Civil Registration. Meanwhile, religious and traditional marriages must be registered with NIRA after being conducted by recognised institutions such as churches, mosques, or temples.

Nsimbi further clarified that the Executive Director of NIRA, Rosemary Kisembo, now serves as the Registrar General of Marriages in Uganda, while at the district level, Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) function as marriage registrars, supported by NIRA officers in 117 district offices across the country.

Emphasising the importance of registering marriages, Nsimbi warned that failure to do so can complicate legal matters such as estate administration, land inheritance, and next-of-kin recognition, especially in cases of death.

“Marriage certificates are not just ceremonial. They serve as critical legal documents that protect spouses and children in matters of succession and property rights. We urge the public to register their marriages, especially women, to avoid being sidelined when the need for legal proof arises,” he said.