City lawyer to defend bride price
Jul 23, 2008
A SENIOR Kampala human rights advocate has petitioned the Constitutional Court, seeking to defend bride price.
By Hillary Nsambu
A SENIOR Kampala human rights advocate has petitioned the Constitutional Court, seeking to defend bride price.
Kenneth Kakuru recently asked the court to allow him oppose a petition seeking to abolish bride price.
He argued that as a Munyankole and a member of the Ankole Cultural Foundation and Trust, he had a duty to promote and preserve cultural values of his people.
The MIFUMI Project, a women rights charity based in Tororo district and 11 people had petitioned the court to abolish bride price.
The group, represented by Atuki Okoth and Company Advocates, argued that bride price, practiced in almost all tribes in Uganda, was unconstitutional.
They added that the custom was promoting gender inequality, led to women battering, had become commercialised and abused.
In his application, Kakuru said he would not like to see Kinyankole customs declared illegal.
The lawyer added that the Attorney General, who is to defend the State in the petition, might not competently represent the interests of the Banyankole like he would.
A SENIOR Kampala human rights advocate has petitioned the Constitutional Court, seeking to defend bride price.
Kenneth Kakuru recently asked the court to allow him oppose a petition seeking to abolish bride price.
He argued that as a Munyankole and a member of the Ankole Cultural Foundation and Trust, he had a duty to promote and preserve cultural values of his people.
The MIFUMI Project, a women rights charity based in Tororo district and 11 people had petitioned the court to abolish bride price.
The group, represented by Atuki Okoth and Company Advocates, argued that bride price, practiced in almost all tribes in Uganda, was unconstitutional.
They added that the custom was promoting gender inequality, led to women battering, had become commercialised and abused.
In his application, Kakuru said he would not like to see Kinyankole customs declared illegal.
The lawyer added that the Attorney General, who is to defend the State in the petition, might not competently represent the interests of the Banyankole like he would.