culture 18 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ankole's Culture: A Catalyst for Persistent Poverty, Residents Argue
Residents and leaders in Ankole Sub-region are pointing fingers at deeply ingrained cultural practices, such as expensive marriage ceremonies and land fragmentation, as significant contributors to the region's enduring poverty. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics reports a multidimensional poverty level of 25.8 percent in the area. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-cultural-practices-are-fuelling-poverty-in-ankole-5562332
A growing concern among residents and leaders in Uganda’s Ankole Sub-region is the role traditional customs play in perpetuating poverty. Data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics indicates a significant multidimensional poverty rate of 25.8 percent within the region.
Central to these concerns are the high costs associated with marriages. Practices involving substantial bride prices, often requiring families to present a large number of cattle and gifts, coupled with lavish wedding celebrations, are pushing many into debt. Some families resort to selling ancestral land or taking out loans to meet these demands, inadvertently creating cycles of generational poverty.
“Some go for loans, sell family property to get bride price like 20-30 cows plus gifts, then the cost of the wedding is also very expensive. I want to advocate for scrapping of bride price,” stated Evaristo Tweheyo, a resident of Mbarara City. This perspective highlights how marriage, intended as a union, is increasingly perceived as a financial burden.
Wedding planners acknowledge the cultural significance of these elaborate events. Albert Mwesigye, a wedding planner in Mbarara City, noted that lavish parties have historically symbolized family wealth, social status, and prestige in Ankole. While the tradition is deeply rooted, its modern manifestation is highly monetized, placing immense pressure on couples to fund these celebrations, often through loans.
Another contributing factor identified is the customary practice of dividing land among sons upon the father’s death. This tradition, while intended to provide inheritance, leads to severe land fragmentation. As Edrina Koburunga from Isingiro District explained, her family’s once substantial landholding has been divided and subdivided over generations, resulting in plots too small to be economically viable for farming. This diminished land size limits agricultural output, impacting the livelihoods of many families who traditionally relied on farming for income.
These cultural norms, though historically significant, are now being re-examined for their detrimental impact on economic well-being in Ankole.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)