The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has registered 3,623 marriages in just six months since taking over the mandate from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), marking a major milestone in the government\u2019s efforts to streamline public services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This development follows the enactment of the URSB Amendment Act, 2024, which officially transferred responsibility for registering civil, faith-based, and customary marriages to NIRA. The move is part of the broader Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) strategy aimed at eliminating duplication, enhancing efficiency, and optimizing resource use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo, the registered marriages reflect Uganda\u2019s cultural and religious diversity: 2,460 Christian, 820 Muslim, 256 customary, and five Hindu. These figures highlight the relevance of centralizing marriage registration under a single authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to registering marriages, NIRA has licensed 64 churches to conduct weddings and processed 662 official marriage-related searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of its modernization agenda, NIRA has rolled out a digital marriage registration system that allows couples to register their unions online, minimizing the need for in-person visits to NIRA offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMarriages that are celebrated are also supposed to be registered,\u201d said Vincent Katutsi, NIRA\u2019s Commissioner for Civil Registration. \u201cThe process has traditionally been manual, but we are now introducing a system that allows church celebrants and other authorized officials to register marriages directly online.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms. Kisembo expressed optimism about the growing number of registered marriages and reaffirmed NIRA\u2019s dedication to supporting the government’s rationalization initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNIRA shall continue to rise and soar on the wings of the new marriage registration function,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are committed to transforming and realizing the government\u2019s vision for a streamlined civil registration system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflecting on NIRA\u2019s journey, she noted the agency\u2019s growth from its origins in the National ID project to a decentralized organization with 119 branches nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom its humble beginnings, NIRA has blossomed into an affable organization. With this new mandate, we are confident it will soar even higher,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The URSB Amendment Act, 2024, consolidated all civil registration responsibilities related to natural persons under NIRA, while URSB retains its role in registering juridical persons and non-incorporated entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, the law clearly delineates the roles of both entities to ensure improved service delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Justice Minister Nobert Mao welcomed the changes, calling them a logical extension of previous reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve already transferred birth and death registration to NIRA. This amendment ensures that marriage registration joins that continuum,\u201d he told Parliament. \u201cIt\u2019s about consolidating services under one agency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With its expanded mandate, NIRA now oversees the registration of all civil, religious, and customary marriages; licenses religious institutions to conduct weddings; and maintains official marriage records under the Marriage Act and the Customary Marriage (Registration) Act. It also issues single status letters and will maintain a register of adopted children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In just half a year, NIRA has made significant strides in executing its new mandate. The successful registration of over 3,600 marriages and the introduction of digital systems underscores its commitment to accessible, efficient, and inclusive public service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the road ahead requires sustained political will, adequate funding, and strong inter-agency cooperation to ensure NIRA fully delivers on its expanded role as Uganda\u2019s central civil registrar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has registered 3,623 marriages in just six months since taking over the mandate from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), marking a major milestone in the government\u2019s efforts to streamline public services. This development follows the enactment of the URSB Amendment Act, 2024, which officially transferred responsibility for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government"],"yoast_head":"\n