At least 14 couples marked Valentine’s Day in a special ceremony organised by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).
NIRA, which recently assumed the mandate of registering marriages from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), officiated the civil unions as part of efforts to promote legal marriage registration in the country.
Speaking at the event, Vincent Katutsi, Commissioner for Civil Registration at NIRA, said the authority chose to make the occasion memorable for the couples who formalised their unions.
“We chose to celebrate Valentine’s Day by officiating marriages for 14 couples who have made the important decision to formalise their unions. At NIRA, we are always excited about occasions like this—first because we celebrate love, and second because we celebrate the legal union of our people. Marriage plays a vital role in stabilising our social environment,” Katutsi said.
He emphasised that civil marriage is just one of several legally recognised forms of marriage in Uganda.
“Ugandans may also marry in church, through customary ceremonies, or through Nikah. All these forms of marriage are valid, provided they are conducted by authorised persons or institutions and properly registered with NIRA. Our message is simple: if you are married, ensure that your marriage is registered. Registration creates an official government record of your union, which serves as legal proof of marriage,” he said.
Katutsi underscored the importance of registration, noting that it safeguards spouses’ rights, protects children’s interests, supports property ownership and succession processes, and facilitates access to services such as bank transactions and loan applications.
“Think of a marriage certificate like a land title. You may not use it every day, but when ownership or rights are questioned, you have evidence,” he explained.
He added that statistics indicate many foreigners and refugees frequently utilise civil marriage services, largely due to documentation requirements, particularly for cross-border travel and legal processes.
“However, we are encouraged that more Ugandans are now embracing civil marriage,” Katutsi noted.
