Real estate dealers in Mbarara are urging the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) to increase efforts in sensitizing couples about the importance of registering their marriages.
During the launch of the Mass Business Registration Initiative in Mbarara city, real estate dealers highlighted concerns about property disputes, particularly related to land ownership, often arising from conflicts between couples and their children.
George Mugarukye Biraba, the director of Amity Realtors, emphasized the importance of legalizing marriages to protect property, especially fixed assets. He noted that legalizing marriages can prevent disputes in cases of divorce or the death of a spouse.
“Some couples separate after they have bought a plot together, upon separation, fights for ownership of property start when going to sell an item, but the moment their marriages are legalized, it can take away those inconveniences and legal battles”.
Vincent Katutsi, the Director of Civil Registration at URSB, stressed the significance of registering marriages to ensure legal recognition and facilitate property transfers during unforeseen circumstances. He emphasized that registering marriages helps in relationship protection and property safeguarding.
“Every marriage in this country has got to be registered. There are five forms of marriage and all of them have to be registered, this helps the government in planning.” Annie Ninkyijuka Katushabe, a board member of URSB, advised couples to verify the registration status of the church where they plan to wed, as marriages conducted in unregistered churches may be deemed illegal.
She encouraged unregistered churches to seek formal licensing from URSB for conducting legal marriages. The Mass Business Registration Initiative aims to improve the business environment in Western Uganda by promoting entrepreneurial best practices and economic growth.
Robert Kanusu, the Mbarara North Resident City Commissioner, highlighted the benefits of formalized businesses, including easier access to financing and participation in economic activities. Katushabe emphasized that the initiative aims to simplify the registration process for entrepreneurs across Uganda, offering user-friendly procedures and efficient services.
The bureau targets to register over 890,000 informal businesses nationwide through the mass registration initiative.
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