The Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) has shut down speculation around the marriage of FUFA president and Budiope East MP Moses Hashim Magogo and speaker of parliament Anita Annet Among saying the couple is still legally married.
Speculation that the couple was split arose out of a letter that made the rounds on social media authored by the Town Clerk of Makindye Division Urban Council Rwakabale Geoffrey in which he nullifies the customary marriage of FUFA president and Budiope East MP Moses Hashim Magogo and the Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among.
In the letter, on 16th August 202, the TOWN clerk said he had removed the couple from the Makindye division customary marriage register.
“I have discovered glaring ommissions and errors occasioned to me as a consequence of duress while processing the matter.” Rwakabale wrote.
The Registrar of Marriages Ronald Jackson Lutunda in a statement dated 22nd September 2022 says that the Town Clerk has no right to invalidate a customary marriage calling upon the public to ignore the town clerk’s letter.
“The role of the Town Clerk in customary marriage registration is to register and transmit a return to the Registrar of Marriages at Uganda Registration Services Bureau. Neither, the Town clerk nor Registrar of Marriages have the authority to invalidate a marriage. Therefore, the letter from the Town Clerk cannot invalidate the marriage between Magogo Moses Hassim and Among Anita Annet. The public is put on notice to ignore the misleading circulating stories about the validity of the said marriage.”
The document from URSB further states the procedure of Registration of Customary marriage in Uganda
“Upon completion of the Registration at the sub-county chief or Town Clerk’s office, the marriage return is filed with Uganda Registration Service Bureau (Registrar of Marriage) to be entered on the National Register maintained by URSB”
Lutunda adds that the couple’s marital status is not in any way invalidated by the town clerk’s letter.
“Non-registration of a marriage does not invalidate a marriage. However, registration of a marriage gives evidential value pertaining to that marriage.”
There are 5 different forms of marriage in Uganda; Customary marriage, Mohammedan marriage, Church marriage, Civil marriage and the Hindu marriage. Of these, Customary marriage is the most widespread.
Full statement by URSB;