Religious leaders disagree over marriage licenses
Jun 15, 2011
MUSLIM leaders have called for the scrapping of a section in the Marriage Act that only recognises marriages conducted in licensed places of worship.
By Prossy Nandudu
MUSLIM leaders have called for the scrapping of a section in the Marriage Act that only recognises marriages conducted in licensed places of worship.
The leaders are also opposed to the issuance of common marriage certificates irrespective of the religions.
Christians on the other hand are advocating a different law that governs christian marriages.
The concerns were raised during a sensitisation workshop for religious leaders and district leaders on registration of marriages at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
Hussein Musisi, a Muslim cleric from Kibuli said the Islamic law recognises marriages conducted outside the mosque.
“In Islam, marriage can be conducted outside a place of warship so long as the components that facilitate legal marriage are present, like the father, two witnesses, and the bridegroom,†Musisi said.
He said if the law provides for marriage to only be conducted in places of worship, then it is against the Islamic faith.
However, Pastor Joseph Serwadda, the leader of born again churches in Uganda advocated for an independent law to govern christian marriages.
Serwadda said the law in Uganda provides for a different religious aspect which includes a Mohammedan Act, Hindu Act, a customary law and a civil law.
“But Christians feel different about this. So my advocacy is for a different law that governs marriages,†Serwada said.
According to the registrar of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Kyomuhendo Bisereko, the workshop was intended to sensitise registrars and improve record keeping.
“If the documents are in accordance with the law, they can facilitate migration for couples, study and work, and also improve compliance and observance of the marriage law,†Bisereko said.
Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi said the Government had made the registrar general’s office autonomous to develop the capacity to properly regulate and enforce the civil registration systems in the country.
MUSLIM leaders have called for the scrapping of a section in the Marriage Act that only recognises marriages conducted in licensed places of worship.
The leaders are also opposed to the issuance of common marriage certificates irrespective of the religions.
Christians on the other hand are advocating a different law that governs christian marriages.
The concerns were raised during a sensitisation workshop for religious leaders and district leaders on registration of marriages at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
Hussein Musisi, a Muslim cleric from Kibuli said the Islamic law recognises marriages conducted outside the mosque.
“In Islam, marriage can be conducted outside a place of warship so long as the components that facilitate legal marriage are present, like the father, two witnesses, and the bridegroom,†Musisi said.
He said if the law provides for marriage to only be conducted in places of worship, then it is against the Islamic faith.
However, Pastor Joseph Serwadda, the leader of born again churches in Uganda advocated for an independent law to govern christian marriages.
Serwadda said the law in Uganda provides for a different religious aspect which includes a Mohammedan Act, Hindu Act, a customary law and a civil law.
“But Christians feel different about this. So my advocacy is for a different law that governs marriages,†Serwada said.
According to the registrar of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Kyomuhendo Bisereko, the workshop was intended to sensitise registrars and improve record keeping.
“If the documents are in accordance with the law, they can facilitate migration for couples, study and work, and also improve compliance and observance of the marriage law,†Bisereko said.
Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi said the Government had made the registrar general’s office autonomous to develop the capacity to properly regulate and enforce the civil registration systems in the country.