Changes in marriage practices among the Bafumbira of Western Uganda

Abstract

This paper examines changes in marriage practices of the Bafumbira, an ethnic group in Western Uganda. The paper uses data obtained from primary data that included focus group discussions (FGDs) in Kisoro District and Kampala City and compliments it with secondary data. It shows that some marriage practices threatened by modernization through formal education, migration and urbanization are still very relevant to the society. These include: "pulling"; parents' involvement in choosing marriage partners; abstinence before marriage; using traditional items in payment of bride price and rare divorce rates. The paper also recommends that practices like early marriage and polygamy be discouraged.