Bridewealth in Northern and Eastern Uganda: Transformations of generosity between partners and generations

Abstract

Bridewealth – in different forms of gifts and services – constitutes social and economic exchange and cohesion between families and generations that can serve to express, confirm and acknowledge partners’ and generations’ mutual respect. Yet, bridewealth is sometimes (mis)conceived as ‘payment’. Consequently, amounts of bridewealth have escalated over time and many now cannot ‘afford’ marriage. A Marriage Bill has been formulated but not yet been passed, due to political disagreements. Bridewealth in public debates is often considered from male and older generations’ perspectives and seldom from women’s and children’s. Families, cultural leaders and politicians all have roles to play in creating transformations. Parents can lower their expectations and use expressions such as ‘gifts’ rather than ‘payment’, and cultural leaders and politicians can suggest ceilings on bridewealth. Refund of bridewealth in case of divorce is prohibited, and we recommend further enforcement of this prohibition.