In Africa, Marriage is so much Treasured in every Society and that it’s a dream for every grownup Male or Female immediately after reaching the marriage age which constitutionally is 18yrs
as for Uganda. As per Ugandan Societies, there are various types of marriages for example,
Customary marriages, Civil marriage, Church/Moslem marriage and indu marriages for the
Indian-Ugandans living in Uganda.
Customary or Traditional Marriage is a marriage celebrated according to the rites of an African
Community and one of the Parties to which is a member of that community. Customary
marriages such as Kwanjula for the Baganda tribe, Kuhingira for the Banyakole and Nyom
Tekwaro for the Luo majorly the Lango and Acholi tribes among others are as well an identity of
a given Tribe. Its this event that many tribes find happiness and excitement every time one of the
kinds is happening. This kind of event brings together many people for example, families of both
the Bride and the Groom, the Clan heads of both Clans or tribes of the will- be married couples,
Local leaders, Government officials, politicians and religious Leaders.
Traditional/Customary marriage can be celebrated in any part of the Country and maybe
polygamous as noted in the customary marriage Registration Act in Uganda.
Dowery and Bride price: The payment of dowry or bride price is a common practice in many
Ugandan cultures. It’s a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the groom’s family to the bride’s
family for the Union though to some it’s a Compensation for the bride’s labor, this is believed
that the bride’s position in her family is now taken and that whatever is being paid is to play a
position of the bride in the family. The items and money vary depending on the customs of each
community or Tribe.
Mr. Okello Patrick, a Clan Leader said “This depends on the love you have for your dear wife or
the family that is giving you the bride, you can decide to bring exactly what has been asked for in
the item list or as a groom who dearly loves his bride, you can bring surplus for example a car for
the father of the bride, water Tank for the home of the bride and many other items or even bring
money in kind totaling to your desired amount”.
In Uganda, Custom requires a groom’s family to pay the bride’s family a bride price to
compensate them for the loss of a woman’s labor around the house. Payment comes inform of
gifts, money or a combination of both; and the marriage is not valid until a bride price is paid.
Depending on many factors, including the family’s tribe, financial situation, Level of education
and the bride’s age. Common bride price ranges from 2million Ugandan shillings ($540) to 20
million Uganda shillings ($5,400).
“We have struggled to pay for our daughter’s education to the level she has attained so Our
daughter is well-educated”, an uncle of Adong Mary made mention during an interview. Think of
the financial benefits this brings to the family of the groom” said Susan Adong’s Uncle of Okaro
wok.
In 2015, the country’s highest court banned the practice of husbands asking for a refund of the
bride price when the marriage ends. It was mentioned that delivery of original is legal-but refund
was deemed unconstitutional as it would deny a woman her equal rights. Opponents argued, the
practice “leads men to treat their wives as mere possessions” but today, the court ruling is rarely
enforced. “I work away from home meaning I am home rarely therefore I prefer to have my wife
be a stay home wife and majorly do house work, take good care of our children, monitor the
Home projects that as a family we have started because I paid all her bride price, so she is my
property” Ochieng Polycarp a resident of Karungu Village in kiryandongo District Mentioned.
According to Uganda’s Women Parliamentary Group, approximately 58 % of couples in Uganda
are cohabiting because of the inability to pay the bride price as it is a custom for a couple to get
married. “We have lived together as a couple for now 5 years and God has blessed us with 2 kids,
but I have not married my wife officially because am still unable to raise the bride price that her
parents need from me” 28-year-Old Omara Paul a resident of Mutunda sub-county says.
In 2017, the controversial Marriage and Divorce bill proposed punishment of up to a year in
prison for any man who demands a bride price refund. The bill has yet to be passed by Parliament.
According to a 2011 national demographic and health survey, bride price for girls as young as 15
are on the rise, though the legal marriage age is 18. Once a woman is over 30 Years of age though,
the price tends to decrease.
At 38, Akello is in fact very Old to get married and that her in-laws say, they are not so willing to
pay bride price saying, she is most likely not going give birth to Children. “I will have to use my
own money to buy the items for my own bride price to support my husband to be in position to
marry me since I cannot get married if he has not paid my bride price and yet his family is not
willing” Akello, a University Graduate Noted.
Bride Price is indeed still a serious matter in the Uganda and that families and community still
treasure it so much however, Todays, trend of events like inter-cultural marriages, |Women
Emancipation and many others look to be evading it slowly.
Lawyers and activists are fighting the trend of Bride price Payment/ dowery Payment because
they say “any dowry paid for the bride is a setback for gender equality”. A one advocate in
Kiryandongo District noted. But she does not anticipate any change anytime soon.
While I strongly advocate for emancipation and gender equality, I believe that the complete erasure of our cultural practices and beliefs risks undermining our identity and sense of self. It is essential to recognize that, although modifications to traditional practices are necessary, particularly concerning bride price, this should be reframed as a symbolic gesture rather than a tool for economic exploitation. Currently, in many cultures, the bride price can perpetuate a transactional dynamic, positioning women as pawns in negotiations between their familial units and those of their husbands. To achieve true gender equality and empower women, we must work towards reforming these practices while retaining the valuable aspects of our cultural heritage. Such an approach allows for progress without negating the fundamental elements of our identity.