Uganda


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Guide for dating in Uganda helps you to meet the best girls. This dating guide gives you tips how to date Ugandan women. You will learn rules where and how to flirt with local Ugandan girls. We advise how to move from casual dating to the relationship and find the real love. We also tell the best dating sites in Uganda. In this article below you will find more information where to meet and date girls in Uganda, Africa.

Sexy young girls at the Bourbon Club, Jinja, Uganda


Girls in Uganda:

  • Looks of girls: 3.5 / 5
  • Attitude of girls: 4 / 5
  • Loyalty of girls: 3.5 / 5
  • Education level of girls: 3 / 5

Dating in Uganda:

  • Chance of arranging dates: 3 / 5
  • Casual dating culture: 2.5 / 5
  • Online dating popularity: 3 / 5

Sex in Uganda:

  • Women's sexual activity: 3.5 / 5
  • One-night stands: 3 / 5

More about Uganda:

  • Nightlife in general: 3.5 / 5
  • Locals' English level: 3.5 / 5
  • Budget per day: US$100 - $500
  • Accommodation: US$50 - $250

Dating

The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Kampala is the capital and largest city in Uganda. Uganda is populated by dozens of ethnic groups. The English language and Christianity help unite these diverse peoples, who come together in the cosmopolitan capital of Kampala, a verdant city whose plan includes dozens of small parks and public gardens and a scenic promenade along the shore of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake.

Ugandan girls are cultured to be submissive and polite. Dating them is enjoyable and does not require a lot of innovation. Once you agree to meet for a date, she will expect the man to take a lead from the choice of restaurant to the conversation. If you are confident that you have a sense of humor and intelligence, make them laugh. But don't lecture.


Dating Culture

The dating scene in Uganda is a controversial one. The men will tell you that dating a Ugandan girl is dramatic and expensive, while the girls will say dating a Ugandan man is a road to heartache. Most young Ugandan girls especially university students prefer dating older men- the working class, because of the financial benefits that their fellow university male students cannot afford to provide for them. So while the working class bachelors go for the campus girls because they are cheaper to maintain than the average working-class woman, the working class ladies go for the married men. The majority of Ugandan men hardly settle with one woman.

However, you can also date a woman that you like, provided you take care of her wishes and show her a good time. There are girls and women here who would be more than interested to date a foreigner.


Sugar Dating

Sugar dating is one of the best ways to find a date in 2023. Men who are willing to buy gifts for sugar babies, will get physical or emotional pleasure for a return. Take a look of the wide selection of girls from SecretBenefits.

Online Dating

Dating in Uganda can be a bit tricky due to not knowing if you have a solid connection, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before you venture to the night club or bar, so you can meet a few locals ahead of time. AdultFriendFinder.com lets you meet local members in Uganda and get to know them on a personal basis before you meet in person. Take advantage of site features like live chat and member to member webcams so you can begin flirting before arranging a face-to-face meeting.

Webcam Dating

Feeling lonely in Uganda? Arrange a virtual date with your favorite webcam girl right now! We have thousands of hot girls online waiting for you. Visit DatingLocalGirlsLive.com!

Women

Similar to the majority of countries around the world, the traditional gender roles of women in Uganda are often considered subordinate to those of men. However, women in Uganda have substantial economic and social responsibilities throughout Uganda's many traditional societies. Ugandan women come from a range of economic and educational backgrounds. Despite economic and social change throughout the country, domestic violence and sexual assault remain prevalent issues in Uganda.

Today gender roles in Uganda are influenced by tradition as well as constantly changing social dynamics. Traditional roles of women in Uganda are similar to the traditional roles of women around the world. These roles are largely domestic including housekeeping, child-rearing, fetching water, cooking, and tending to community needs. Some women in rural areas of Uganda were expected to kneel when speaking to a man. At the same time, women shouldered the primary responsibilities for childcare and subsistence cultivation, and in the twentieth century, women had made substantial contributions to cash-crop agriculture.

While it has traditionally been the role of men to control familial financial matters, women provide substantial economic contributions to their families and the larger Ugandan economy. Many women report they continue to struggle to find employment opportunities and some leave their communities to find greater employment opportunities elsewhere. Traditional gender roles that have been largely revitalized by western religious influence, assert the role of women as based on domestic responsibilities. Therefore, female employment continues to be stigmatized within Ugandan culture. However, there have been greater initiatives to generate women's employment around the country.

In many respects, Ugandan women hold and have held rights that exceeded those of women in Western societies. Many Ugandans recognize women as important religious and community leaders. Women have held rights to own land, influence crucial political decisions made by men, and cultivate crops for their profit. When cash-crop agriculture became lucrative, as in southeastern Uganda in the 1920s, men often claimed rights to land owned by their female relatives, and their claims were supported by local councils and protectorate courts.


Ugandan Girls (age 18 - 29)

The minimum legal age for marriage for girls is 18 years. However, many girls marry off younger than this. This is because many parents are wary of their daughters getting pregnant before marriage. For some, once a girl has undergone female genital mutilation, she is mature enough to get married as she is no longer considered a child.

As the young ladies experience a change from adolescence to adulthood, they experience a physical change in their bodies. What was before little irregularities on the chest develop on to turn out to be delicate and round bosoms. Ugandan ladies are normally invested around there and you will begin seeing the women deliberately making them obvious. The buttocks and hips are also growing and are at a very attractive stage in their growth. They have very attractive facial features and you are sure to be delighted just by looking at these beautiful young girls.

The girls from this age bracket usually start investing in their looks. They start putting on tight clothes that are more revealing to flaunt their sexy bodies. In a recent incident, there was hue and cry when it was said that the government was planning to use the women’s bums as a tourist attraction.

The young ladies in the urban regions are friendlier than the provincial ones. They are very approachable and friendly towards foreigners as the majority of them are enjoying the new opportunity brought about by moving out of their folks' homes. For most young ladies, this is the age at which they get into committed relationships.

A group of hot young girls at the Street Club, Uganda


Ugandan Women (age 30 - 45)

For women in this age bracket, their bodies have completely evolved albeit some may at present be encountering development in their erogenous zones. Since these ladies are all the more monetarily steady, they can buy luxurious clothes which add to their attractive appearances. The individuals who are as yet single or the liberal ones will even now be slanted to get into the tight clothes that upgrade their highlights. The wedded ones dress all the more conservatively. These ladies are additionally ready to buy better design adornments, gems and excellence items which they put both at work and when they go out.

Most of the single women from this age group are looking for partners to settle down and start a family with. As they do settle down, they try and keep a glance between their personal, professional and social lives. Some of the more career driven women are even divorced, owing to the fact they are more invested in their jobs and careers than their partners and families.

Other than the married ones, ladies at this age are anything but difficult to attach with. This is a result of the inclination to settle down which causes them to be all the more friendly and responsive to approaches by men. Getting on with these ladies is simple and acceptable as they are commonly more experienced than their more youthful companions thus they have a comprehension of what a relationship involves.


Ugandan Ladies (age 45+)

Age would be catching up with most women from this age bracket and their features will be slowly losing shape. The breasts and buttocks will no longer be as supple as when they were younger. However, some of the women here can afford the most luxurious beauty enhancement products that they will use to slow the deteriorating brought by age.

For those lucky women in formal employment, they will have risen through the ranks in their organizations and some may be in senior positions while others may be employers in their own right. Even the unmarried ones will be rich enough to have some property of their own such as houses and cars.

Age and experience will have made these women very mature especially in matters of relationships. These older women are mature enough to know what they want from a relationship and they will not hold back from stating it. Even though they may have lost some of their beauty and charm with age, these women know how to treat men and you can be sure of a good time with her.


Foreign Girls (tourists, expats, students, etc.)

With its countless natural and manmade features, Uganda attracts many tourists every year. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda received 1.8 million tourists in 2018, up from 1.4 million in 2017. In addition to the tourists, another group of foreign girls in Uganda are expatriates. As an emerging economy, Uganda hosts may professionals who come in to offer their expertise in the growing enterprises and organizations. The foreign girls mainly come from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and the United Kingdom.


Sex

Despite its conservative African traditions, sex with Ugandan girls is relatively easy. Ugandan adolescent girls and young women often participate in transactional sex through coercion. As a tourist, many girls will be attracted to you as it is considered prestigious in some places to be dating a foreigner. Whether you are seeking something just for the holidays or a relationship that can lead to marriage. The girls here are easy and you only need to make the right approach as you look for sex.


Sex Culture

The country has an active sex culture. The Ugandans are traditionally accommodative and tolerant of other cultures both local and foreign. As a result of this tolerance, many young people engage in sex, albeit discreetly, with both fellow locals and foreigners especially tourists. The country has a chequered past with sex tourism whereby tourists fly in to enjoy sex with locals. A sustained campaign against this practice has seen its drastic reduction. However, this had rubbed on the locals and even though it is not done or talked about in public, it is a common occurrence such that many parents marry off their daughters early to raise money.


One-Night Stands

As mentioned above, the tolerance of all cultures in Uganda has led to a relaxation of the strong traditionally-prescribed culture of abstinence. Many young people are getting into one-night stands especially with tourists who are willing to reward the girls in one way or another for sex. This has spread beyond tourists and many having one-night stands with their fellow Ugandan.

However, approach women with the notion of a one-night stand with considerable caution as not all of them are open to the idea and some might even take offence at you approaching them for a one-night stand.


Best Places to Meet Single Girls

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa whose diverse landscape encompasses the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and the immense Lake Victoria. Its abundant wildlife includes chimpanzees as well as rare birds. Remote Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a renowned mountain gorilla sanctuary. Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest is known for its 43m-tall waterfall and wildlife such as hippos.

Apart from these, there are a number of other places like Shopping malls, cafes and restaurants where you can visit and chat up a woman that you like. However, the most fruitful places is terms of meeting and hooking up with women are the numerous bars, pubs and nightclubs in the country. That is where you will be most likely to come across women willing to hookup with strangers and foreigners. For your ease, a number of places have been categorised and listed below.


Bars, Pubs and Nightclubs

Ugandans are known for their party life. Some of the best entertainment spots in the country include:

Big Mike's, Kampala: Bayékou has a roof terrace with a stunning view over the Atlantic and Ngor Island in Dakar. This is the place to go for a happy hour or after-dinner drinks. They offer standard cocktails and long drinks as well as lighter options like wine, beer, soft drinks and cocktails. In addition to being a bar and lounge, the club also has a classy restaurant.

Cayenne, Kampala: An attractive outdoor set-up with a sprawling tree, luxurious pool and popular restaurant, Cayenne is a top place to hit night or day in Kampala. However, the party only truly gets started late night when DJs, live music and multiple bars are in full swing. Dresscode is smart casual (no shorts or flip-flops) and there's a cover charge after 11 pm weekends.

Iguana: Heaving with wazungu (foreigners) and locals, divey Iguana is a contender for the most popular bar in town. Upstairs is a boozy affair, whether as a spot for after-work drinks or late evenings with DJs spinning anything from house to dance hall or old-school hip-hop. Downstairs has a pool table and live reggae bands.

Rock Garden: One of the definitive stops on the Kampala night shift, this cool place has a covered bar and a huge outdoor area. Be careful here: pickpocketing is often part of the experience.

Ange Noir: In an industrial location, the ‘black angel’ has long held Kampala’s most popular dance floor. Events are listed on the club's website.

Bourbon: Right on the fast-flowing water, this open-air thatched bar with lounge divans and tables on a floating pontoon boat is the most ambient drinking establishment in Jinja. It's also lively, with DJs and late nights on weekends. Check the Facebook page for upcoming events.

The Bistro, Kampala: The Bistro opened its doors in August 2012 as a bright new addition to the popular Kisementi neighborhood of Kampala. This chic stylish eatery offers a fusion menu using the very best ingredients sourced from local markets and suppliers. An outdoor patio allows patrons to make the most of Kampala’s near-perfect weather, while the inside comfy couches beckon those meeting friends for coffee, stopping by for an after-dinner drink or using the free WiFi.

Street Club: This is a popular nightspot with the movers and shakers of the city. An extensive wine menu, expertly mixed cocktails, a retro R&B soundtrack and hearty bar snacks prepared in The Bistro kitchen downstairs makes this an ideal location for sundowners after a long day at work, an evening with friends or colleagues, a romantic night stargazing with a loved one, or a special celebration. It is located in Entebbe.

Hotspot X5: Hot Spot X5 Lounge and Discotheque has been revamped with great ambiance to reinforce nightlife in Entebbe town. Located on Kampala Road, the club that has been given a facelift, recently introduced new night themes such as games, which happens every Tuesday, Wednesday is Campus night, which is spiced up with sing-along Karaoke while the resident DJ holds his Showcase every last Wednesday of the month.

Forest: The most popular spot for a drink in Fort Portal, this Belgian-owned bar/club has outdoor seating and plenty of large screens showing sports.

Bubbles O'Learys: A Kololo institution, Bubbles is the closest you'll find to a true pub in Kampala. Its bar and furnishings were shipped in from an old Irish boozer back on the Emerald Isle. It's a buzzing spot drawing a fun crowd of expatriates and locals and has a great beer garden too.

Party at the Ange Noir club, Uganda


Shopping Malls

As everywhere else in the world, Uganda has seen malls become popular hangout joints for those who want to have a good time and do their shopping conveniently in one place. Some of the malls in Uganda include:

  • Acacia Mall, Kampala
  • Mukwano Mall, Kampala
  • Arena Mall, Kampala
  • Victoria Mall, Entebbe
  • Nabirya City House, Jinja
  • Mayfair Business Center, Jinja
  • Gulu Mall, Gulu
  • Star Shopping Arcade, Mbarara
  • Dubai Garden Centre, Mbarara


Outdoors

Home to almost half the world's surviving mountain gorillas, the World Heritage-listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of East Africa’s most famous national parks. Set over 331 sq km of improbably steep mountain rainforest, the park is home to an estimated 340 gorillas: undoubtedly Uganda’s biggest tourist drawcard. As well as its famous primates, the park contains 120 other species of mammal – more than any of Uganda’s other national parks – though sightings are less common due to the dense forest.

  • Top of the Falls: Once described as the most spectacular thing to happen to the Nile along its 6700km length, the 50m wide Victoria Nile is squeezed here through a 6m gap in the rock and crashes through this narrow gorge with unbelievable power. The 45m waterfall was featured in the Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart film The African Queen. Murchison was even stronger back then, but in 1962 massive floods cut a second channel creating the smaller Uhuru Falls 200m to the north.

Located 12km from Mbarara on the road to Kampala, the Igongo Cultural Centre features the best museum displays in Uganda. Set on the grounds of a former palace of the Ankole king, this quality museum explores the peoples of southwestern Uganda, particularly the Ankole, through artifacts, a cultural village replica and a heap of info. Directly across from the center is Biharwe Eclipse Monument atop Biharwe Hill. It was built to commemorate a victory for the Ankole kingdom 500 years ago, following an eclipse that saw the invading king retreat in fear (and never return), spooked as day plunged into sudden darkness.

  • Mengo Palace: Built in 1922, this small palace is the former home of the king of Buganda, though it has remained empty since 1966 when Prime Minister Milton Obote ordered a dramatic attack to oust Kabaka Mutesa II, then president of Uganda. Led by the forces of Idi Amin, soldiers stormed the palace and, after several days of fighting, Mutesa was forced into exile. The building's interior cannot be visited, but the notorious underground prison here is open to tours.
  • Murchison Falls National Park: Uganda’s largest national park is one of its very best; animals are in plentiful supply and the raging Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile crashes through the rock and descends dramatically towards Lake Albert, is an unforgettable sight. Despite a decimation of animal numbers during the war years, numbers have recovered well and you can expect to see elephants, Rothschild giraffes, lions, Ugandan kobs (antelope), waterbucks, buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles, not to mention some 460 species of bird.
  • Rubaga Cathedral: This twin-towered Roman Catholic cathedral has a memorial to the Uganda Martyrs, with 22 Catholic victims (later declared saints) enshrined in the stained-glass windows. They were among other Ugandan Christians burnt or hacked to death by Kabaka Mwanga II in 1885 and 1886 for refusing to renounce the 'white man’s religion'.
  • Namirembe Cathedral: This huge domed Anglican cathedral, finished in 1919, has a distinctly Mediterranean feel. In years past the congregation was called to worship by the beating of enormous drums, which can still be seen in a little hut alongside the church.
  • Source of the Nile Gardens: On the western bank of the river you'll find the pleasant Source of the Nile Gardens and Speke Monument – a pillar commemorating where the British explorer first laid claim to the historic source of the Nile in 1858. Birders enjoy the 15-minute walking trail.
Rubaga Cathedral, Uganda


Universities and Colleges

Some of the universities and colleges found in the country include:

  • Makerere University, Kampala
  • Uganda Christian University, Mukono
  • Kampala International University, Kampala
  • Islamic University of Uganda, Mbale
  • Mountains of the Moon University, Fort Portal
  • Uganda Technical University, Kampala
  • African Bible University of Uganda, Kampala
  • Lakeside College Luzira, Kampala
  • St. Joseph’s University Seminary Nyenga, Jinja
  • Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda


Relationship

In Uganda, it's common for men to assume that by the age of 40 they should have their life together and should be ready to settle down. For women, however, 25 is the age when they are supposed to have their studies and careers settled so they can get married and start a family. This is a wide gap and doesn't appear to leave much room for interpretation.

With gender inequality still prevalent in Ugandan culture, men are still considered superior to women and thus are allowed to make excuses for cheating, physical abuse, neglect and poor treatment. And the women are taught to turn a blind eye and allow 'men to be men.' While the older and mature ladies are happy to continue in cultural traditions and follow expectations of the women's and men's responsibilities in a home, the younger generation of women coming up is putting their foot down. They don't want to be constrained to cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children. They are ambitious and goal-oriented, women who know what they want and are willing to work hard to get it. Hence, if you are looking to have a relationship like those in the west, you should focus more on the younger generation of girls.


Holiday Romance

Once someone gets a job, their life becomes a routine of moving from home to work every weekday morning and getting back home every evening. The weekends are used to do any pending house chores and for some, do side hustle. This trend becomes stricter once children come along.

Holidays come with the added benefit because they offer the chance for one to hookup with beautiful girls. Spending your time in Uganda for a holiday could be the perfect opportunity for you to hookup with local Ugandan girls or even foreign girls who are also on holiday. While many people get into holiday romance planning to hookup just for the duration of the holiday, some of these hookups blossom into long-term relationships which in turn may result in marriage. The various interesting places mentioned above will give you enough distractions and spice up your holiday romance.

Regardless of what kind of a relationship you are looking for, it is advised that you should always be upfront about your intentions and expectations with your holiday romance partner so that there is no heartbreak at the end.


Tips for Successful Relationship

We all look around and see couples who seem to be having it all figured out in their relationships. What we usually see is just a byproduct of work that goes on behind the scene to make the relationship flourish. Even as every relationship has its ups and downs and unique circumstances, certain common practices can be applied to any relationship to make it stronger.

When a relationship is on the take-off stage, both parties go out of the way to make a good impression on their partners as they try to make each other happy. However, everything changes as soon as the two people get hitched and settle into the relationship. Much of the romantic gestures are thrown out of the window and some even start being dismissive and abusive towards their partners. For a relationship to stand the test of time, we must treat each day as the first and act as though we are still hitting on each other.

A major cause of disharmony in many relationships is the feeling of not having your desires or expectations met. A partner gets mad when they expect something from their partner but are disappointed . A major cause of this shortcoming is when we fail to communicate about what we want or how we feel. No matter how long you stay with someone or how well you may think they know you, you need to express yourself to them clearly so that no assumptions are made which will lead to disappointments.

Before the two of you settle in together and concerning the above, the two of you need to be constantly checking on each other as often as possible. You need to find out what your partner is doing and if you can be of assistance. In checking up on each other, you will be able to synchronize your plans and create more time for each other.

To be happy in a relationship, we must be happy first. That is, in fact, the key to a successful relationship. With that in mind, both the partners must continue to take out time for themselves, enjoy their hobbies, and in general, spend some time apart. Not only does absence make the heart grow fonder, but in the time we spend alone, we get to reunite with our spiritual side, re-establish our sense of self, and check-in with the progress of our personal preferences, goals, and achievements.

Being good together does not mean that couples agree on every little thing. Most successful couples have varying attitudes, opinions, and belief systems; and even held opposing views on major areas in some cases. All couples should have some level of disagreement somewhere. Successful, loving couples respect the point of view of one another and even have a sense of humor over their points of contention.

We need to recognise that, while a long term relationship can be a beautiful thing, it is not effortless, nor will it ever be perfect. Have realistic expectations and do not fall victim to the fairy tale – you may find yourself sorely disappointed. This is not only one of the greatest factors of a successful marriage but plays a huge role in your happiness as an individual too.

So, all in all, what makes a marriage successful are communication, independent time, and healthy indulgences that will keep any couple on track.


Love

There's no question that the early stages of a relationship can be confusing. You might puzzle over your feelings, and wonder what the person you're dating thinks of you. Your own emotions may be difficult to fully decipher, and trying to categorize them as falling in love or as just a passing attraction can be tricky. As people fall in love, they often branch out beyond their normal range of activities and try those that their partners favor. You might find yourself trying new foods, watching new shows, or attempting new activities like running, fishing, or gambling. People who fall in love tend to report growth in the content and diversity of their self-concepts.

To be in love I Uganda is a great experience. Women here take being in love and in a committed relationship very seriously and are hardly ever faithful or disloyal. If a Ugandan woman falls in love with you, she will go to great lengths to keep you happy.


How to Make Sure She Is the One

Step one in "finding the right person" is finding someone you thrive with from a conversational standpoint. Step two, which is always more difficult, lies with finding someone you can thrive within silence, too. When you can appreciate a quiet moment with someone, past the urge to flood the air with conversational filler, it's never awkward.

No one means to make each other mad, but it happens. People have bad days. People have their issues. People get hangry and need a burrito. No matter the reason it started, you’re able to sit down and talk it out. You find solutions. You make compromises.

An independent partner is a happy partner. A good relationship requires mutuality and the ability to go back and forth in giving and seeking support. Someone must be able to take care of themselves emotionally and physically. If they can't, they will never be able to provide the support they need to provide when that is called for.

When you're with someone you care about, you listen and care about what they have to say – you don't just wait for your turn to speak. And once you've listened you speak, not only with your words but with your actions. Communication with your partner should feel open, safe, and trusting, not something daunting and to be avoided. You should feel able to approach them any time with a problem, and not be afraid to bring up important issues. You should communicate with each other out of care and concern, not judgment and criticism.

Every relationship has its occasional disagreements and difficulties – it's how you respond to such situations that show whether or not you are a good fit. A steady, loving relationship is in one in which both partners are open to making compromises. Couples don’t have to like the same thing all the time. From time to time, you will have to do something you aren’t particularly enthusiastic about – from watching a movie that makes you yawn to missing your big night out for your partner’s family event. Another time they’ll do the same for you. Give and take, and willingness to compromise is a sign that you’re in a healthy relationship.

The right partner will be there beside you, whether times are good or bad. It is one of the best and clearest indicators of the way a person feels to see how she behaves when you pass through a difficult situation together. If she is not there to help you through minor turbulence now, you probably can’t depend on her to be there when times become truly difficult.

Not only does she care about you, but she'll also go the extra mile to make sure that you're comfortable when you need it the most. She genuinely cares about you and your wellbeing and is always willing to do what it takes to make you happy. Everyone loves a lady, and she is the epitome of one. She's always respectable when she needs to be. She's polite, proper and presents herself well. She not only respects you, but you respect her as well. She doesn't always have to be too buttoned-up though. She knows when to kick back and loosen up.


Marriage

Uganda has 5 types of marriages and these are;

  • Customary marriage
  • Mohammedan marriage
  • Church marriage
  • Civil marriage
  • Hindu marriage

Of all the above types, customary marriage is the most widespread. Each marriage has different requirements, for example, under customary marriage, a man can marry more than one wife, while under Civil and Church marriages, this is prohibited. Further, under Customary, Muslim and Hindu marriages, the minimum age of marriage is 16years old for girls, while under Church and Civil marriage, it is 18 years old.

The Ugandan Constitution mandates the Government of Uganda to register all Marriages that occur in Uganda. The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) is the Government Agency responsible for this function. URSB administers all the laws relating to marriage in Uganda.

After, the marriage ceremony, the couple is supposed to appear with all the required documents and two witnesses before a sub-county chief of the area where the ceremony took place or the town clerk if the marriage took place in a town or municipality. Fill in the registration form and you should all sign the form for an affidavit, i.e. the couple plus the witnesses. Pay the recommended registration fees A certificate of marriage will be issued on payment of a fee. Thereafter, a copy of the certificate and a cover letter from the sub-county chief or town clerk is brought to URSB offices for the marriage to be registered and entered onto the Marriage Register.

The documents required are:

  • Proof of nationality for example a voter’s card, passport or national identification card
  • An LC 1 letter to prove residence in Kampala district for at least 15 days
  • A passport size photograph for identification
  • Marriage affidavits that conform with S.10 of the Marriage Act
  • In the case of foreign nationals, a letter from your Civil Registration or Vital Statistics Office confirming that the party is not married

Where parties are between 18 and 21 years, they should in addition to 2 above submit:

  • A birth certificate to prove parentage
  • A consent letter from the father or mother or legal guardian
  • A photocopy of the identification of the consenting authority


Wedding

Ugandan weddings are a big deal! This is because it is a once in a lifetime celebration, so you make it as lavish and memorable as possible. You also have to invite every brother (brother and sister are loosely defined terms in Uganda), sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, grandma, grandpa, distant relative, friend, and distinguished district official, and you have to feed them all. With the country being made up of many ethnic groups, some wedding traditions vary from one tribe to another.

In the Acholi culture, the traditional wedding takes two days. The first day is occupied with cooking as the bride-to-be and her family spends hours cooking and decorating the compound. The action begins in the night with the arrival of the groom and his entourage. He finds the compound dark and he and his entourage are required to bring along a couple of lamps to 'light the way'. When he gets to the house of his intended bride, he is not allowed to enter it standing upright. He and his company must enter the house on their knees.

The Baganda traditional weddings, on the other hand, start with the parading of the bride-to-be. After the groom has identified his bride then negotiations may begin. In this culture, however, the groom does not participate in negotiating the bride price. His elders will finalize the negotiations and he will be informed that he has been accepted only after it is done.

One similarity between many Ugandan weddings is the bride's wardrobe changes. She can wear as many different outfits as she wants but mostly changes each time she comes out to meet with her guests. While changing outfits is not mandatory it is preferred in both tribes and gives the bride-to-be and her family a sense of pride and chance to show off her beauty. Some brides may change outfits up to five times, while others may choose not to change at all. Some brides also require their entourage to change but others do not.


Family Life

The family life of a Ugandan family is all held together by the father, or a male who is dominant over the women. Around the age of six years old, if they can afford it, the children will begin going to school. The child continues to go to school until they are 20 years old and then can move onto a university if that is what they choose. Children are responsible for taking care of children that are younger than them so that their parents can work. Therefore, many children develop a sense of responsibility very quickly.

Early marriages are seen very commonly in this culture. Almost 50% of women are married before they turn eighteen and it is not uncommon to have twelve or thirteen-year-old children getting married. The father chooses the man for her daughter and in turn gets a "bride price" such as money, cattle or land. The women have no say in who they are going to marry.

The extended family is augmented by a kin group. Men have authority in the family; household tasks are divided among women and older girls. Women are economically dependent on the male next of kin (husband, father, or brother). Dependence on men deprives women of influence in family and community matters and ties them to male relationships for sustenance and the survival of their children.

Family prosperity in rural areas involves the acquisition of wives, which is accomplished through the exchange of the bridewealth. Since the 1950s a ceiling on the bridewealth has been set at five cows and a similar number of goats. The payment of bridewealth is connected to the fact that men "rule" women. Polygynous marriages have reinforced some aspects of male dominance but also have given women an arena for cooperating to oppose male dominance. A man may grant his senior wife "male" status, allowing her to behave as an equal toward men and as a superior toward his other wives. However, polygynous marriages have left some wives without legal rights to inheritance after divorce or widowhood.

Traditionally, women's roles were subordinate to those of men despite the substantial economic and social responsibilities of women in traditional Ugandan societies. Women were taught to accede to the wishes of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and other men and to demonstrate their subordination to men in public life. In the 1990s, women in rural areas of Buganda were expected to kneel when speaking to a man. However, women had the primary responsibility for child care and subsistence agriculture while contributing to cash-crop agriculture.

If you belong to one of the western countries, it might prove to be a little difficult for you to adjust to the life in Uganda owing to the great difference in the culture here. Things like gender inequality might not sit right with you. Other than that, the educational institutes and job opportunities not being up to western standards might be a problem too.


Regions

Map of Uganda with regions colour-coded
Central Uganda
the Capital City and the shoreline of vast Lake Victoria
Eastern Uganda
superb trekking close on the border with Kenya and more wildilfe
Northern Uganda
this beautiful area teems with wildlife.
Western Uganda
Gorilla trekking on the borders with Rwanda and DR Congo


Cities

  • Kampala — a bustling African capital. It is the only 'city' in the country.
  • Arua — located in the NW corner of the country, reached by daily flights from Entebbe Airport or by bus from Kampala.
  • Entebbe — a collection of some upmarket residential streets and a slew of government offices on the shores of Lake Victoria, dominated by State House, the official residence of the Ugandan President. The location of Uganda's only international airport, about 1 hour south of Kampala by road.
  • Jinja — located on Lake Victoria and at the source of the Nile. Home to Nile Beer.
  • Fort Portal — a clean and well-organised highland town surrounded by extensive tea plantations, a number of fine colonial buildings and a superb Rwenzori backdrop.
  • Gulu — Gulu is the de facto capital of the north.
  • Mbarara — a southwestern town en route to several national parks.
  • Kabale — a small town in the far south of the country near Lake Bunyonyi.
  • Kisoro — located in the extreme southwest corner of Uganda next to the borders with Rwanda and DR Congo. It is the closest town to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.


See Also