Uganda needs a conversation about marriage

What the report says

In a comment published by The Independent Uganda on August 6, 2026, Nanteza Sarah Kyobe argues that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s recent remarks about the rising cost of bride price and increasingly expensive weddings have reopened a debate about how Ugandans approach marriage. The piece says the president’s comments have prompted reflection on whether modern ceremonies have drifted away from the social and family purpose they are meant to serve.

Kyobe writes that, for many young people, marriage has become financially difficult because of large introductions, lavish receptions, multiple outfits, expensive venues and social pressure to stage impressive events. She says some couples begin married life already burdened by debt, which can then affect rent, daily living and children’s education. Her examples are presented as personal observations rather than formal reporting.

The commentary also looks back at older, simpler marriage customs in Buganda and notes that bride price traditionally functioned as a gesture of appreciation, not a commercial exchange. It adds that marriage practices differ across Uganda, including in cattle-keeping communities where livestock has long played a role in introductions and unions. While those traditions are described as culturally important, the article argues that customs should not become barriers that discourage young people from marrying.

The author calls for a wider national discussion involving cultural leaders, religious institutions, parents and young people. The broader point, as presented by The Independent Uganda, is that marriage ceremonies should remain dignified and meaningful without becoming financially unsustainable.