In Uganda, marriage is more than a social or religious milestone; it is a legal institution with long-term implications for individuals, families, and the state. That is why compliance with the country’s laws governing marriage is critical.
The recent notice by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) warning a total of 973 churches of potential cancellation of their marriage solemnization licences is both a wake-up call and an opportunity to address the cracks in our civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems.
The legal basis for NIRA’s action is clear. Under Section 1(5) of the Marriage Act (Cap 146), NIRA’s move to enforce this provision highlighted in a public notice published on June 16, 2025, in New Vision sends a strong message about the need for accountability and adherence to legal obligations, particularly the timely filing of marriage returns.
The published list of 973 non-compliant churches includes established names like Mutundwe Christian Fellowship, St. John’s Church of Uganda-Kamwokya, and Christian Life Ministries Kawempe. The law requires the registration of all kinds of marriages – civil, customary, Muslim, Church, and Hindu. The Government’s interest in documentation of marriages is in planning, enforcement of laws, and meeting international obligations, but individuals benefit as well when it comes to claiming recognition, gender equality, inheritance, and resolving disputes, especially in cases of separation, divorce, or death.
Therefore, when licensed religious institutions that are gazetted to perform marriage ceremonies do not fulfil their reporting obligations, the entire system is frustrated, including systems of policy-making, legislation, justice, social protection, and human rights enforcement.
One of the biggest challenges is a lack of awareness. Many Ugandans are marrying in un-gazetted churches, and even those who marry in gazetted marriage churches are not aware of the additional requirement to register their marriages with NIRA. Marriages taking place in un-gazetted religious institutions are not legally recognized and thus, cannot be, and are not registered. Available data suggests that only about 7,246 marriages are registered per year, which is obviously a tiny proportion of the different categories of marriages that take place in Uganda.
In the end, many couples who spend fortunes on solemnizing their unions are finding themselves without legally recognized marriages, complicating everything from inheritance rights to child legitimacy and legal protections in case of disputes or separation.
CRVS systems are essential for good governance; they provide the backbone for legal identity, social service planning, and human rights. Creating awareness, empowering individuals, and enforcing compliance among all actors, including churches and other religious institutions that perform marriage ceremonies, and integrating marriage registration into the broader CRVS system of life’s major events of birth, adoption, marriage, divorce, and death, with actors playing their roles in synergy.
Please read about our CRVS campaign and about your responsibility on our social media channels X and LinkedIn: #InclusiveIdentityUG
