It was an unusual Valentine’s Day for 12 couples as the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), which recently assumed responsibility for marriage registration, oversaw the wedding of three couples at their headquarters in Kololo.
“It was as simple as we wanted it to be. We obviously wanted more, like having our families with us, but mine couldn’t come. However, we just wanted to be happy and have this special day, so we opted for this type of ceremony,” said one of the couples, an American citizen who married Agide Musiina.
Rosemary Kisembo, NIRA’s Executive Director, explained that the event was an opportunity for the authority to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the couples.
Kisembo also highlighted the importance of marriage registration.
“Marriage is often surrounded by celebrations, fanfare, customs, and costly ceremonies, yet the crucial step of registering the marriage is often overlooked,” she said.
She continued, “The cost of registering a marriage is only shs 35,000. On this day of love, I urge you to ask your spouse, your church, or your mosque if your marriage is registered. Without registration, you risk the possibility of your spouse being married to someone else, potentially jeopardizing the 20 years you’ve invested in your relationship.”
