In Rwanda’s Eastern Province, Bugesera District, a week-long campaign promoting gender equality resulted in more than 200 families legalizing their marriages. The provincial authorities say their goal is to reach 3,271 families who are living together without having legalized their union. This is seen as a major step in changing people’s mindset and strengthening family unity and development.
The Governor of the Province, Pudence Rubingisa, reminded citizens that legal marriage is a way to safeguard love and build stable families, while preventing disputes related to property, inheritance, and other conflicts that often arise in households. He said:
“The benefit of marriage is not only to nurture the love that brought us together but also to align with what the law requires. It helps us avoid problems that emerge when families live together without legal recognition—whether property-related or inheritance-related. We have seen many family conflicts stemming from this.”
One of the families that got legally married during the campaign, Niyogisubizo Laurence and Rutabagisha Celestin, said the initiative helped them reflect and decide to legalize their union. Niyogisubizo explained:
“Before marriage, we didn’t trust each other, which made it hard to sit down and plan for the future of our home, because each of us felt it wouldn’t last. But now that we are legally married, we trust each other and can work together for a prosperous family. Our children will also grow up seeing their parents united, and that will become part of their culture.”
The Mayor of Bugesera District, Richard Mutabazi, confirmed that the campaign has been successful, as it encouraged many families to take the step of legalizing their marriages. He said:
“This week has been very fruitful. When discussions reach the village level, they impact many people, and some change as a result. When a family legalizes their marriage, it means they have signed a contract that protects them from disputes, helps in managing property, safeguards children’s rights, and even if disagreements arise, there are agreements we as leaders can refer to.”
However, Mayor Mutabazi also highlighted some challenges, stressing that families living together without legal marriage often face property-related conflicts. He explained:
“When they are not legally married, you find that they acquired things together, but everything is registered under one person. When disagreements arise over property ownership or usage, it becomes very difficult to resolve.”
So far, in Bugesera District alone, more than 200 families legalized their marriages within a single week. Provincial leaders see this as a significant milestone in advancing gender equality and building stronger, more stable families across the Eastern Province.
