society 2 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Museveni Decries Extortionate Bride Price, Citing '16 Cows' Example
President Yoweri Museveni has strongly criticized the escalating bride price, warning that exorbitant demands are making marriage inaccessible for many young Ugandans and likening the practice to parents 'selling' their daughters. He questioned the rationale behind demanding as many as 16 cows for a bride. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/heart-to-heart/-16-cows-for-what-museveni-warns-costly-bride-price-putting-marriage-out-of-reach-5544402
President Yoweri Museveni has voiced significant concerns regarding the rising bride price in Uganda, a cultural practice he believes is becoming excessively costly and detrimental to the institution of marriage. During a recent address, the President questioned the justification for demanding large sums, specifically citing an example where parents allegedly asked for “16 cows” as bride price.
Museveni articulated that such high demands are effectively ‘selling’ daughters, turning what should be a union of love and commitment into a commercial transaction. He emphasized that this financial barrier is pushing marriage out of reach for many young men who cannot afford the steep requirements, potentially leading to alternative, less stable relationships.
The President urged parents and cultural leaders to reconsider the escalating bride price, advocating for a return to more modest and reasonable expectations. He suggested that focusing on the financial aspect undermines the true meaning of marriage, which he sees as a partnership and a foundation for family and community.
His remarks are a call to action for cultural re-evaluation, aiming to preserve the integrity of marriage while ensuring it remains an achievable goal for ordinary Ugandans. Museveni’s intervention highlights a growing societal issue that impacts social structures and individual aspirations.