I guess I missed the boat on not getting married in Uganda…
Today at lunch, Edward, the program officer at the PATH Uganda office, explained the marriage/wedding system here. Men have to pay the woman's family to marry her (a dowry of sorts). There is an elaborate negotiation and "market research" process that takes place to determine how much she is worth. Edward apparently paid 5 cows and 10 goats for his wife plus small gifts for all of the bride's aunts and uncles! This is the "customary wedding". Once the payment is accepted by the family, the two are technically married.
They also have "white weddings" after the customary wedding that are just like American weddings with dinner, dancing and drinking. But, instead of the bride and groom and their families paying for the wedding, the bride and groom bring together all of their friends and family into what they call a "planning committee". The couple receives donations from all of these people to pay for the wedding! Why couldn't I do that for my wedding back in the states??
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