By Mike Rwothomio

Cultural leaders in West Nile have raised alarm over the sharp decline in official marriages among young people across the sub-region, attributing it primarily to excessive bride price demands.

The body warned that the practice is preventing youth from starting homes, fuelling promiscuity, producing children of unknown parentage, and placing heavy burdens on parents whose unmarried daughters become pregnant.

Mr. Lemeriga Fadhil, Prime Minister of the Aringa Kingdom and regional coordinator for cultural leaders in West Nile, has highlighted the problem and is urging cultural, religious, and government leaders to enact bylaws that make marriage more affordable and accessible for young people, regardless of the bride’s educational background.

“There are delayed or no many official marriages amongst young people, not only in Aringa but in the entire West Nile sub-region, and this one has been caused by overcharging of bride price,” he said.

“Someone who is very young, who has just graduated, who is a senior four leaver who has never gone to school, is made to pay 6, 7, 8, or 9 cows. This person is supposed to pay at least 17 goats and 1 sheep and a good number of chicken. This person must organize a very expensive religious wedding, either at Islamic or Christian level. This person has not accumulated any wealth in his life, but this person has reached the age of puberty and wanted to start a home, but cannot because economic conditions do not allow this person.”

The regional body called upon all cultural, religious, and government leaders in West Nile to come up with bylaws to make marriage easier for the many young people who want to start homes and establish themselves.

They believe this would help avoid promiscuity and children of unknown parentage, enable well-established families, and contribute to a prosperous West Nile and a stable Uganda, with families and children whose origins are known.

“This problem of overcharging has now made many children or young people… impregnate girls and they run away. Many girls have gotten pregnant in their homes. This now becomes a burden to their parents, who must buy food for these kids, pay school fees, buy clothes, and give them medicine in case of sickness… This is a very big problem in our society that has been overlooked for a very long time. Therefore, it is important that it gets the most immediate attention,” Lemeriga stated.

Fadhil’s concerns echo recent high-level calls for moderation. President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly advised against excessive bride price demands, warning that they turn marriage into a commercial transaction, discourage young people from marrying, and force couples to start life in debt.

Early August 2026, while addressing the Banyankole community during an Okuhingira ceremony, Museveni said: “You the Banyankole are really damaging the population. Parents, why are you selling children? What’s the problem? Sixteen cows, I don’t know how many cows. Why do you have to get wealth through your children? Why can’t you work for yourself?”

He added that excessive bride price subjects young people to begin marriage while in debt and described it in strong terms as wrong.

Museveni has also stated he does not demand bride price for his own daughters, arguing parents should build their own wealth, and has urged simpler ceremonies, noting his own modest wedding with only eight guests.

He has linked overly high demands historically to conflicts in places like Karamoja and called on religious leaders to preach against extravagance.

The cultural leaders say their proposal for a maximum of four cows plus limited smaller livestock, applied uniformly, aligns with the spirit of making marriage accessible so that more young people can form stable, recognized families.

Prime Minister Aringa Kingdom Mr. Fadhil Lemeriga

Mike Rwothomio is the news editor at Zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates.