Uganda, April 19 -- Parliament yesterday passed a law transferring the powers to conduct civil marriages from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

NIRA will also take on the mandate to register all faith-based and customary marriages.

The URSB Amendment Act, 2024, is part of the Government Policy for Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX). The rationalisation aims to, among others, streamline and harmonise government operations, avoid duplication of roles and save money.

"The Bill [now Act] will delineate the civil registration functions performed by NIRA and URSB, by ensuring that NIRA registers and performs all civil registratio...