Why Museveni pays dowry for his daughters

Summary:

• Ugandan President Museveni pays dowry for his daughters but refuses it from son-in-laws to promote gender equality.

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has made a public statement acknowledging that he pays dowry for all of his daughters while refusing dowry from any potential son-in-law.

In his Women’s Day address, the 79-year-old leader explained his reasoning behind this decision, stressing its importance in combating gender-based violence and promoting women’s empowerment.

President Museveni underscored his rejection of traditional dowry customs as a way to encourage societal transformation. By covering dowry for his daughters, he intends to set a precedent for Ugandan families to adopt contemporary marriage practices that prioritize equality and dignity.

Pointing to his own region as an example, President Museveni noted a growing number of families embracing his approach to marital traditions. He recounted a recent wedding attended by one of his ministers where the bride’s family declined the groom’s offerings and instead requested a specific number of cows as dowry. The groom’s family, taken aback by this departure from tradition, returned with 90 cows, illustrating the economic empowerment resulting from evolving social norms.

President Museveni proudly stated, “All my daughters are married, and I am a proud grandfather. But I am the one who pays the bride price for them when they get married.” He disclosed that he personally accompanies his daughters with cows as part of the dowry process, demonstrating his personal commitment to preserving this tradition.

His wife, Janet Kataaha, had previously disclosed that their daughters entered marriage as virgins, a statement she made during the commemoration of the Day of the Girl Child. She revealed that her daughters pledged abstinence until their wedding nights, symbolized by signing “true love waits” cards, which they presented to their spouses on that special occasion.

President Museveni has three daughters named Diana, Natasha.