Customary nuptials official

 By LAZARUS BIRA

THE Civil Registration Amended Act 2014 now allows for customary marriages to be registered, says Register-General Dickson Kiragi.

Kiragi said under the previous Act, only civil marriages were allowed to be registered.

“Under the amended Act, customary marriages are now registerable,” he said.

“If there is any customary marriages that have taken place, the parties are required to furnish all the necessary information and documents for assessment before we produce their marriage certificates.”

Kiragi said under the new Act, all marriages had to be registered as registration supported legal and social protection for family members.

He said the new Act allowed for one wife and husband marriage to be registered. For a polygamous marriage, the husband would choose only one wife to be the legal wife and their marriage would be registered.

He said marriage registration was important for a family.

“The meaning of getting a marriage registered is about the legal establishment of a family. This helps to secure marriages,” he said.

“Today, there are lot of young people getting married and having children but their marriages don’t last.

“Any child that is born in the family is legally binding.”

Kiragi said having marriage documents would help to solve heritage issues when dealing with assets of the family during an event of a parent’s death or divorce to ensure members of the family benefited.

He said if all marriages in the country were registered, the data would help the government in development planning to improve the lives of the people.

He said the office would do awareness around the country on the need for marriage registration.