More than 42 marriages involving people above the age of 18 but below 21 have been officially approved by the government since July last year when a new family law that allows such was passed. The official marriage age in Rwanda is 21 but the new family law gazetted in July last year allows Rwandans aged 18 to get married legally, provided they apply for it at relevant institutions and present reasonable grounds for the request. ALSO READ: Marriage at 18: Could the power vested in mayors lead to contradictions, corruption? Determination of the reasonable grounds' legitimacy lies in the discretion of district authorities. So far, such reasonable grounds are not clearly specified in the law. However, Valentine Uwamariya, the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, told parliament last year that there are instances where 18-year-olds have applied for legal marriage due to circumstances including pregnancy or employment responsibilities. The New Times understands that from July last year until January 15, 2025, a total of 42 marriages involving at least one person below age 21 were approved by the government. Of these, an overwhelming majority of 41 applicants were women. Differing perspectives on marriage at 18 Rwandans have different thoughts and opinions on marriage below the age of 21. For example, Rogers Rukundo, a pastor at City Church in Nyamata, Bugesera District, doubts whether today’s society can support such marriages. ALSO READ: Getting married at 18: What are “reasonable grounds” in proposed legislation? “In the past, people married young because societal structures supported it,” he said. “Families were deeply involved in preparing children for marriage by teaching them societal values and life skills. Today, the education system and career demands have changed the dynamics. Most young people spend their formative years in school and away from elders who could mentor them. This means they often lack the societal values and life experience required to sustain a marriage,” he added. ALSO READ: Marriage vows: New bill seeks to scrap holding national flag He suggested that young individuals, even in cases of pregnancy, should remain under their parents’ care and receive guidance rather than rush into marriage. However, he acknowledged that exceptions could be made for extreme cases, such as homelessness or lack of support. MIGEPROF’s Legal Affairs Specialist, Hamimu Kanzeguhera, defended the law, explaining that it was designed to address specific cases requiring legal marriage. He stated examples such as ensuring financial support from partners, securing employment opportunities that favour married individuals, and safeguarding assets. Kanzeguhera also defended the trust placed in district mayors to determine the legitimacy of the reasonable grounds, noting that mayors already make critical decisions on various matters.
