Bride Wealth Ceremony in Padyere County in Nebbi District: an Analysis of Risks Faced By the Girl Child Education a Case Study: Nebbi Town Council & Kucwiny Subcounty

Abstract

This dissertation present the findings of the study to answer the three specific research questions: the different activities performed before, during and after the Bride Wealth ceremony that may affect girls’ education, risks associated with bride wealth ceremony that girls faced with and the financial implications of Bride Wealth ceremony on the education of girls in Padyere County in Nebbi district.

The research was conducted in two sub counties of Kucwiny and Nebbi town council.

The study employed a case study research design in order to get clear picture of what this particular research is all about. Data were collected from 100 respondents using tools such as questionnaire, focus group discussion and interview guides. The manual system was used to analyze the findings.

The findings of this research points out that, girl child is at risks while performing different activities at each stage of the ceremony for instance, brewing of alcohol which is done before the ceremony exposes girl child to early alcoholic consumption that gradually affects the development of the brain and the entire body.

Coupling/merry making and escorting of the bride to her home exposes girl child to indulge in immoral behavior that may force her to abandon education for the sake of seeking early marriage which later culminate into psychological problem and unstable marriage in her home.

Findings on the financial implication of bride wealth ceremony on the education of girl child show that, the highest level of expenses incurred by the parents in witnessing the success of the ceremony. However, in some cases the bride wealth received from the groom’s parents’ falls below the expectation of the expenses incurred in the stages of the bride wealth ceremony making the entire ceremony expensive.

The research offered key recommendations to both policy makers and Alur cultural leaders that, the number of days for conducting bride wealth ceremony should be reduced from three days to one day and the numbers of the visitors (groom’s relatives) be reduced to a maximum of ten people only. If these recommendations are taken for action, girl child school attendance/ retention will improve and risks associated with social gathering will be no more.

Login to download()