Uganda bride price refund outlawed by top judges.

Uganda's Supreme Court has ruled that the practice of refunding a bride price,
or dowry, on the dissolution of a customary marriage is unconstitutional and
should be banned.
The judges said it suggested that women were in a market place, and infringed
on their right to divorce.
But they rejected the argument that the bride price itself was unconstitutional.
Campaigners said that the dowry turns a woman into the husband's property.


Should a marriage end in Uganda, the wife had been expected to refund the
bride price - often paid in livestock.
But it was argued that as women tend to have less wealth than their husbands,
many became trapped in unhappy relationships.
'Encourages domestic violence'
According to BBC's Patience Atuhaire in the capital, Kampala, says that traditionally the bride price is seen as honour and a sign that the couple are entering into a
respectful marriage.
The case was brought by the women's rights organisation Mifumi, who said
that bride price encouraged domestic violence.
It also argued that the bride price led some men to think that he had paid for
his wife's "sexual and reproductive capacity".
Six of the seven judges said that the direct link between the bride price and
domestic violence had not been proved.
However, they did say that using the phrase "bride price" was wrong as it made
it look like the woman was purchased.
The only dissenting opinion came from Justice Esther Kisakye, who said that
while the constitution supports culture, it should only support one that respects
people's rights.