Urbanization fueling marriage dynamics among the Baganda of central Uganda

This paper examines changes in marriage practices and patterns of the Baganda, the largest ethnic group in Uganda. Primary data that included Focus Group Discussions in the rural districts of Mpigi, Kisoro, Sironko and Arua as well as Kampala city that is 100% urban is complimented with secondary data. The results show that with 18% of Uganda’s population being urban and 5.1% urban growth rate, marriage practices and patterns have not been spared. It is showed that some relevant marriage practices such as: “pulling”; parent involvement in choosing marriage partners; abstinence before marriage; using traditional items in payment of bride price and rare divorce rates are changing partly because of urbanization. The authors recommend that good Baganda marriage practices and patterns should continue and be strengthened, while polygamy, secret marriages and cohabitation should be discouraged.