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A new government directive requires couples to present national identification cards (IDs) before conducting marriage ceremonies (Shutterstock Photo)
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By Our Reporter
PARLIAMENT - A new government directive requiring couples to present national identification cards (IDs) before conducting marriage ceremonies has sparked concern in Parliament. Joseph Ssewungu, MP for Kalungu West, voiced strong opposition to the mandate, arguing that it contradicts the religious practices of various faiths, particularly within the Catholic Church, which traditionally requires baptism and confirmation cards for marriage.
Speaking during a Parliamentary session, Ssewungu questioned the rationale behind the directive, stating that many marriages, especially customary ones, do not necessitate national IDs. "Yesterday, we saw the Government directing that they aren’t going to legalise any marriage unless you have a National Identity Card, but our beliefs are different," he said. "As a Catholic, I was baptized, I went for my confirmation, and in our constituencies, people are going through customary marriages that don’t require such documentation."
Ssewungu questioned the rationale behind the directive, stating that many marriages, especially customary ones, do not necessitate national IDs (Photo by Parliament of Uganda)
Ssewungu emphasized that many national IDs are nearing expiration, but the National Identification Numbers (NINs) linked to them remain valid. He called on the government to explain why possessing a national ID is now a prerequisite for registering marriages, particularly when religious and customary practices already have their own requirements.
"What is the government trying to fix with this new rule?" Ssewungu asked. "Why should I, as a baptized Catholic, be forced to have a national ID before my marriage is recognized?"
In response, David Bahati, Minister of State for Industry, requested more time to allow the relevant Ministry to prepare a statement clarifying the directive. Bahati acknowledged the concerns raised and promised that a formal explanation would be provided in due course.
Background
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) had earlier sent an official communication to churches, requiring religious leaders to ask couples intending to wed to produce their National Identification Numbers before solemnizing their marriages. The letter was sent to the Catholic Bishops of Uganda as a government directive, which the church is being asked to comply with.
When asked, URSB Spokesperson Dennis Nabende defended the new requirement, saying that it is in line with the law as stipulated in the Registration of Persons Act. "Registration of marriages is a state function. The church just carries it out on behalf of the government. This means that the church has to provide periodic marriage returns. The religious leaders declare to us the couples wedded, and we put them in the national marriage registry."
"The aim of this law is to ensure that national marriage registration is credible. Initially, the church registered names based on one’s baptism card, but people keep changing their names! So, basically, this is intended to improve the system and provide better information," Nabende said.
The debate is expected to continue as Parliament seeks further clarification on how the directive aligns with Uganda's diverse cultural and religious practices.
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