What Types of Churches are Permitted by Law to Hold Weddings ?.

#we_inform_the_uninformed .



Maseko is confused as to why her parents are against her getting married at her new church by her favourite pastor, where she met her ‘hubby’. According to her, her parents’ church is “old-fashioned and boring”, yet the theme for her wedding is enjoyment. Does it matter which church she gets married in?



WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?



The law states that marriage must be celebrated in a licensed place of worship by a recognized minister of the church that is a Priest for the Catholic Church, a Reverend for the Anglican church, a pastor for the Pentecostal church and a Sheikh for the Islamic faith. Before deciding which church to marry, you need to find out if the church is licensed by searching at Uganda Registration Service Bureau. Getting married in a church that is not licensed makes the marriage invalid.



HOW DOES THE CHURCH BECOME LICENSED?



1. The church writes an application letter to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs through the Registrar General. This letter should state the religious denomination, for example, Catholic, Anglican, or Pentecostal, if the church belongs to an already registered church, and if it is, there should be a recommendation letter from the mother church.



Remember to attach copies of the following documents, which have to be submitted to the Registrar General.



a)Verified copy of registration as a company limited by guarantee/ NGO or a trust.

b)Proof that the church owns the land or has rights to use the land on which the church is seated.



c)A permanent structure in which worship is conducted. A permanent structure is one which is fixed to the ground by slabs or poles or any other allowed building means

d) Recognized marriage celebrants with valid identification and recognized by that faith.

e) A report from the registrar of marriages in the area.

f). Proof of payment of 200,000 in the bank



2. Once the application has been approved, the church will be granted a license, which the church can collect within five working days and take to Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) for gazetting.

3. After the license has been gazetted, a copy is taken to Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).

4. The licensed church must file monthly returns to the registrar of marriages.



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Source; BarefootLaw