Last December’s enactment of the new law governing persons and family which allows individuals aged 18 to apply for marriage under specific circumstances, continues to draw mixed feelings. ALSO READ: Getting married at 18: What are “reasonable grounds” in proposed legislation? While the law created opportunities for some people, it raised concerns regarding its vague criteria and reliance on discretionary powers at district level. The law empowers mayors to grant or deny marriage requests based on reasonable grounds provided by applicants, thereby sparking debate on its application and fairness. ALSO READ: You could legally marry at 18 in Rwanda, new bill proposes Article 197 of the law stipulates that individuals aged 18 may seek marriage authorization from district civil registrars if they present “reasonable grounds.” However, the law offers no explicit definition of such grounds. During related parliamentary debates before the law was passed, the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Valentine Uwamariya, cited examples such as pregnancy or employment responsibilities. However, these were not clarified. The Mayor of Gakenke District, Vestine Mukandayisenga, said that her office has received 10 such applications since the law’s enactment in December 2024. Of these, six were approved, and four were denied after rigorous assessments. “The law does not provide clear conditions, but we have been given the authority to analyze such cases based on facts,” Mukandayisenga explained. “We evaluate factors such as the couple’s ages, living arrangements, educational commitments, and family input. For instance, if a girl is pregnant, we verify this and consider the broader implications before making a decision.” Mukandayisenga recounted a case where an 18-year-old woman and her 20-year-old partner were denied marriage authorization. “Neither was mature enough to manage family responsibilities. We also consider potential divorce costs and the emotional toll on young couples,” she said. Personal stories For some people, the law brought joy. Jeanne d'Arc Ingabire, a 20-year-old resident of Rushashi Sector, in Gakenke District, married her 26-year-old partner after getting approval due to pregnancy. “We weren’t living together initially. But when we learned about the pregnancy, we decided to get married. The approval was a moment of delight for us,” she said. Others were less fortunate. Theogene Habimana, 20, and his 18-year-old partner, Clesence Uwamariya, from Kamubuga Sector in Gakenke District, were denied permission. Habimana had hoped to formalize their union to support Uwamariya’s education. “I wanted her to return to school while we were legally married. Marriage provides stability and trust. If we were married, I could invest in her education without worry,” Habimana explained. Despite the rejection, he remains optimistic, stating, “I will apply again when I turn 21. Meanwhile, she has returned to school, and I will continue supporting her.” ALSO READ: Marriage vows: New bill seeks to scrap holding national flag Concerns about discretionary powers Odette Uwineza, a lecturer at University of Rwanda’s School of Law, argued that the discretionary power vested in mayors could lead to inconsistency and potential corruption. “The absence of clear guidelines is problematic. Decisions could be influenced by personal biases or even corruption. Applicants denied marriage have limited recourse to appeal,” Uwineza said. Uwineza called for clearer regulations to prevent arbitrary decision-making and ensure fairness. She emphasized that Rwanda had a similar provision in its 1988 law, which required special marriage requests to be approved by the Minister of Justice or their representative, a system that was later abolished. To address these concerns, the Ministry of Local Government trained district officials on how to handle such cases. Sylvere Nahayo, the Mayor of Kamonyi District, emphasized the importance of applicants presenting realistic reasons. He encouraged couples to wait until the age of 21 unless the circumstances are urgent. While individuals aged 18 are considered adults with full legal rights, the age for marriage is 21.