Date of publication:

01/07/2026

Uganda

Do domestic laws and policies provide for the registration of vital events, other than birth, of forcibly displaced and stateless persons occurring in the country of residence?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Asylum-seekers
Analysis

Access to birth, marriage and death certificates are settled in the law which applies to refugees, other aliens and nationals. Only births within Uganda may be registered by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). NIRA is a government agency established under the Uganda Registration of Persons Act (2015). NIRA's primary function is to carry out the registration of citizens and non-citizens of Uganda who are lawfully resident in Uganda; the issuance of national identification cards; to register births and deaths; and to issue national identification cards and aliens identification cards;

Legally recognised marriages may be registered without hindrance in any part of the country. There are 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. 

Death registration of every death within Uganda is free and compulsory and must be done at the NIRA.  The fees to be paid to the NIRA can be found here.  

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    Registration of Persons Act (2015)

    Legal provision

    Section 41 - Compulsory registration of deaths.

    Subject to this Act, registration of every death within Uganda is free and compulsory.

    Section 30 - Period of registration of birth.

    (1) A parent, guardian or the person having charge of a child, shall immediately after the date of birth or finding of a child notify the registration officer for the purpose of registration of the birth of that child. (2) A birth not registered immediately, shall not be registered unless the registrar is satisfied as to the truth of the particulars and is directed to register them by the Executive Director.

    Marriage Act (Cap.251)

    Legal provision

    Section 31 - Marriage certificates to be registered.

    (1) The registrar of marriages in each district shall forthwith register in a book to be kept in his or her office for that purpose, and to be called “The Marriage Register Book”, every certificate of marriage which shall be filed in his or her office, according to Form F in the First Schedule to this Act; and every such entry shall be made in the order of date from the beginning to the end of the book, and every entry so made shall be dated on the day on which it is so entered, and shall be signed by the registrar, and the book shall be indexed in such manner as is best suited for easy reference to it. (2) The registrar shall at all reasonable times allow searches to be made in the Marriage Register Book and shall give certified copies from it upon payment of the prescribed fee. (3) Within ten days after the last day of each month, every registrar shall send to the Registrar General a certified copy of all entries he or she made during the preceding month in the Marriage Register Book of his or her district, and the Registrar General shall file the copy in his or her office.

    The Registration of Persons (Birth and Deaths) Regulation (2015)

    Legal provision

    Regulation 7 (1) - Duty to notify of birth (parents of child).

    (1) Where a birth occurs at home or in any other place other than a medical facility, it is the duty of the father or mother of the child to give notice of the birth to the registration officer of the registration area in which the birth occurs

    Regulation 6 (1) - Duty of administrator of medical facility to record birth.

    (1) Where a birth occurs at home or in any other place other than a medical facility, it is the duty of the father or mother of the child to give notice of the birth to the registration officer of the registration area in which the birth occurs.

    Regulation 5 - Registration of births

    (1) Every birth occurring in a designated registration area in Uganda shall be notified to the registration officer of the area in which the birth occurs. (2) Subject to the Act, registration of every birth within Uganda is free and compulsory. (3) A birth not registered immediately, shall not be registered unless the registration officer is satisfied as to the truth of the particulars of the birth and is directed to register the birth by the Executive Director and the prescribed fee is paid.

    The Constitution of The Republic of Uganda

    Legal provision

    Article 18 - Registration of births, marriages, and deaths.

    The State shall register every birth, marriage and death occurring in Uganda.