Civil Registration
Legal marriages in Uganda.
This includes the different types of marriages:
- Civil marriages - These are monogamous in nature and celebrated in the office of the Registrar General for residents of Kampala and in the offices of Chief Administrative Officers for the other 120 districts.
- Moslem marriages - These are celebrated in accordance with the rites and observances of the Islamic faith.
- Church marriages – They are monogamous in nature and celebrated in licensed churches in accordance with the rites of the Christian faith.
- Customary marriages – They are potentially polygamous and are celebrated in accordance with the customs of an African community.
- Hindu marriages – These are celebrated in accordance with the rites and observances of the Hindu faith. When is the Marriage Void.
~ 11 (5) Customary Marriage (Registration) Act Cap 248 states that a customary marriage shall be VOID if one of the parties has previously contracted a monogamous (Church or Civil) marriage which is still subsisting.
~ 34 Marriage Act Cap 251 states that a Church or Civil marriage shall be INVALID if either of the parties to it at the time of the celebration of the marriage is married by customary law to any person other than the person with whom the Church or Civil marriage is had.
NB A customary marriage can only be converted into a Church or Civil marriage if the customary marriage is still monogamous and the parties are the same
~ 1 Marriage and Divorce of Mohammedans Act Cap 252 – The Marriage Act SHALL NOT APPLY to the celebration of marriages between persons both of whom profess the Mohammedan religion, and neither of whom is a party to an existing marriage, under or declared valid by those Acts, with any person other than a Mohammedan
NB Persons with subsisting Moslem marriages can neither contract valid Church nor Civil Marriages
Civil Registration Forms
Forms for Civil Registration
| Form Number | Name | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit | SECTION 10 CAP 251 | |
| Certificate of Customary Marriage | 6 | |
| Church Marriage Return (Form F) | N/A | |
| A | Notice of Marriage | N/A |
| Statutory Declaration for Single Status Letters | N/A |
Civil Registration
Civil Marriages 
Special License
Converting Customary Marriage into Civil Marriage 
Registration of a Marriage 
Licensing a Public Place of Worship to celebrate marriages 
Marital Status Letter 
Certifying a Marriage Document 
Searching a Marriage 
| Service | Details | National Applications (Ugx) | Foreign Applications (Usd) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Marriages | File notice of marriage | 10,000/= | $10 |
| Display of notice on notice board | FREE | FREE | |
| Celebration of marriage | 200,000/= | $150 | |
| Issuing of marriage certificate | 25,000/= | $25 | |
| Registration of marriages a) Marriages conducted at URSB. b) Marriages conducted at the Districts | 25,000/= | $25 | |
| Registration of Affidavits | 30,000/= | 30,000/= | |
| Customary Marriages | Issuance of customary Marriage Certificate | 20,000/= | N/A |
| Registration of a customary marriage within six (6) months | 20,000/= | N/A | |
| Registration of a customary marriage after six (6) months | 40,000/= | $200 | |
| Special Licenses | Process applications for special licenses | 300,000/= | $200 |
| Issuance of Special license | FREE | N/A | |
| Licensing Places of Worship to Celebrate Marriages | Process applications from clients | 200,000/= | N/A |
| Inspection of place of worship of the applicant, report and recommendations | FREE | N/A | |
| Granting of license to celebrate marriage | FREE | N/A | |
| Searches And Certifications | Searches on the Marriage register/ Muslim and Hindu divorce Register | 25,000/= | $25 |
| Certification of marriage certificates/ returns AND Muslim and Hindu Divorce Certificates | 35,000/= | $35 | |
| Marital Status | Issuing of single status letters | 25,000/= | N/A |
| Church, Hindu And Muslim Marriages | Compliance Check | N/A | N/A |
| Approval of marriage return | N/A | N/A | |
| Filing of marriage returns and registration of marriages | 35,000/= | $35 | |
| Muslim & Hindu Divorces | Compliance Check | FREE | N/A |
| Filing of divorce returns and registration of divorce. | 35,000/= | $35 | |
| Verification of Marriages and Muslim & Hindu Divorces | E-searches for Government& Foreign Missions | FREE | FREE |
| Verification for the general public of Muslim and Hindu divorces. | 35,000/= | $35 |