• This type of marriage is conducted by the chief administrative officer or the registrar of marriage in the ministry of justice.
• It is a monogamous marriage of one man and one woman.
• The essential requirements are similar to those under the church marriages.
• It is important to note that this marriage is not a contract and therefore it is binding for life.

• The property that has been given to the wife i.e. “mahari” belongs to her since it was a gift before the marriage.
• Upon dissolution of the marriage, the wife retains the “mahari”

Marriage is the voluntary union for life of a man and a woman to the exclusion of others.

The constitution of Uganda provides that men and women of the age of 18 years and above have a right to marry and form a family and are entitled to equal rights before, during and after the marriage has been dissolved.

It is important to know that only those who are married have rights to inherit each other’s’ property. Those who do not fall under the categories of marriage recognised by the laws of Uganda do not benefit from the estate of a deceased person as a wife (widow) or husband (widower) unless specially written in a will.