Kampala – The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has achieved significant milestones since taking over the marriage registration function in late September 2024, generating over UGX 734 million in Non-Tax Revenue (NTR).
Notably, NIRA has registered over 1,250 civil marriages, 3,460 Christian marriages, and 256 customary marriages under the office of the Registrar General. Additionally, NIRA has licensed 64 churches to conduct marriages.
The official transfer of the marriage registration function from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to NIRA solidifies NIRA’s role as the central agency responsible for the full cycle of vital events registration in Uganda.
The handover ceremony, held at the Uganda Business Facilitation Centre (UBFC), was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the leadership and Boards of both URSB and NIRA.
URSB’s Registrar General, Mercy K. Kainobwisho, praised the strategic decision, stating, “It’s a good feeling. We started this journey together. The Government decided to transfer the marriage function to NIRA, and we fully support it.”
With the addition of marriage registration, NIRA now manages the life cycle of identification and civil registration, including issuing NINs, managing the National Identification Register, issuing national ID cards, Alien cards, and registering births and deaths.
NIRA’s Executive Director, RoseMary Kisembo, expressed optimism about the seamless integration of the marriage function into the modern ecosystem, positioning Uganda as a leader in data-driven governance, legal identity, and social protection.
“NIRA is an organization that’s growing and transcends all barriers it encounters,” she said. “With cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, we’re confident that the marriage function will be seamlessly integrated into our modern ecosystem.”
The Executive Director further affirmed that NIRA has transformed over time, growing from a National ID project to an organization with 119 branches and counting.
NIRA’s Chairperson, Joseph N. Biribonwa, reaffirmed the board’s commitment to deploying cutting-edge technologies and consolidating registration services.
The handover comes at a time when marriage registration is a global concern, with falling marriage rates and scarce reliable data. However, Uganda is stepping ahead, with 50.6% of adults formally married and 26.6% cohabiting, according to the 2024 census.
With NIRA now managing the entire civil registration cycle, Uganda is well-positioned to lead by example in data-driven governance, legal identity, and social protection.