When the bride has no price

What the report says

The Observer publishes a viewpoint essay arguing that bride price in Uganda is being misunderstood and, in some cases, reduced to a financial transaction. Written as a personal conversation in Nyamiyaga, the piece contrasts a common critique of bride price with a defense of its original cultural meaning: not the purchase of a woman, but an exchange that linked two families through symbols of respect, hospitality and community recognition.

The author says modern practices — including cash demands, gift lists and highly commercialized wedding expectations — can turn a marriage ceremony into something closer to an auction than a cultural rite. The essay suggests that this shift risks commodifying both brides and grooms, while obscuring the social purpose of marriage. It also notes that contemporary couples often approach marriage as a private matter, but argues that marriage still carries family and community responsibilities.

Rather than calling for the abolition of tradition, the article urges a reassessment of what should be preserved. It supports keeping the ceremony, elders, negotiations and family involvement, while rejecting any idea that a woman has a monetary price. The author frames the broader issue as a need for tradition to adapt without losing its cultural meaning, so that bridewealth supports a marriage rather than becoming a burden on young couples.