KNOW YOUR CULTURE: Okuhingira - Give Away in western Uganda

KNOW YOUR CULTURE: Okuhingira - Give Away in western Uganda

Unlike today where some men feel cheated by paying bride price, in the typical Ankole tradition, a groom gains from the marriage.

Infact, the gifts (emihingiro) that the bride comes with sometimes are more than those paid by the groom as bride price. For example, the aunties, uncles and friends give cows to the bride during the kuhingira and they could go to as many cows as the guests invited.

Younger girls and boys called the
enshagarizi then escort the bride to the groom’s place after the blessings from the elders. Today, the groom’s side has to organise the transport for these people because they are very important for any marriage ceremony in Ankole.

Going back is not necessarily the role of the bridegroom.


After the kuhingira, the bride’s side is still in control though. The bride according to the culture is not supposed to do any work until the cultural initiation. This is done after about ten days from the giveaway day.

During this initiation, the bride is made to light fire in the kitchen in a tradition called okukoza omumuriro (helping the bride to start touching fire).

Because of modernity however, some brides have left the bridal room (orusika ) the day after marriage to fulfil their job and employment obligations.


So many people in Uganda may find it hard to understand the Ankole culture and language but many know the words
"okwanjura", "okushwera" and "okuhingira" irrespective of the language they speak.


Among the Bakiga however, "okushwera" doesnt mean marriage. Marriage among the Bakiga is "okutasya". Okushwera means something totally different.

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