By Patrick Luganda
27 December 2001
It is now settled. Hand in gifts to a suitor’s parents. Marry the girl. Mistreat her and she will run away. And there is no refund for your gifts.
More than 60% of voters in the referendum on bride price in Tororo district last Saturday opted for a reform in the bride price process to turn it into a non refundable gift.
Preliminary results show more that 8000 people voting in 74 polling stations with 4,678 giving a nod to the changes while 3,128 said did not like the idea. Spoilt votes were 284.
The referendum exercise that took off at 7:00 a.m. was held in a peaceful atmosphere in the sub-counties of Kirewa, Kisoko, Nagongera and Tororo municipality.
In most polling stations, polling officials said the voting started on a low key in the morning but picked up as the day progressed.
“Many of the voters first went to the gardens and they have started to come in now. There are two funerals in the area, that is why only 50 people have so far voted but after the burial, many more will come,” said Jane Rose Onduri, presiding officer at Kirewa station.
Results indicate that Kirewa had the highest participation with 1388 voting to change bride price to a non refundable gift.
“We have conducted a comprehensive opinion poll on a significant social issue and we will lobby the Government for the verdict to be translated into a law,” said Atuki Turner, coordinator of the Mifumi Project.
“We will lobby for the amendment of the 1964 Bukedi bye-law on bride price,” Atuki added.
The 1964 Bukedi bye-law set the bride price at five cows, five goats, a cock and sh20 which items are refundable should the marriage breakup. The refund is mandatory regardless of how long it has lasted.
This is the second time a referendum is being held at a local level.
The first, held in 1964 was to decide whether the lost counties of Buyaga and Bugangaizi be returned to Buganda or Bunyoro. They voted for Bunyoro.