Family of MP Amongi's ex-hubby demand bride price

By Bonney Odongo

Almost two weeks after two Members of Parliament – Jimmy Akena of Lira municipality and Betty Amongi of Oyam South became husband and wife, the family of Amongi’s former husband, Dr. James Ochwa, is demanding a refund of the dowry and other gifts given to Amongi’s family in 2003.

Pedro Alele Echel, a brother of Ochwa, said when the two separated in 2005, Amongi’s parents refused to refund the bride price.

Alele said Amongi and Ochwa married in a traditional ceremony on July 19, 2003, where 10 cows, 10 goats and money were given as bride price to Amongi’s father, but the two separated two years later over unclear reasons.

“Dr. Ochwa tried unsuccessfully to recover his bride price from Amongi’s father, Romano Ongom. As the family and clan of Dr. Ochwa, we want the bride price to be paid back since she is now married to another man,” Alele said, according to New Vision’s sister paper Rupiny’s lead story published today.

In an interview with Rupiny, Amongi said in 2007, Ochwa demanded for return of his cows, but his (Ochwa) clan head rejected the move because the two had a child.

The clan head wanted the matter sorted out culturally.

She added that Ochwa took the matter to court, but the court, according to Amongi, dismissed Ochwa’s case.

Akena, who is the son and political heir of former President Apollo Milton Obote, married Amongi in one of the most lavish traditional marriage ceremonies.

Twenty head of cattle, four pieces of gold worth sh10m, 12 goats and unspecified sum of money were paid as bride price.

Amongi was then handed to Oyima clan and received by Obadiah Akaki, the elder brother of Obote and Akena’s mother Miria Obote.