Oo the wedding day (called Embagga) in the ancient African tradition (more particularly Ugandan), the couple were welcomed with drumming, singing and dancing and were offered seats at the rostrum. The wedding venue was enclosed and the couple would be seated at the front in such a way that they could face their guests. The groom traditionally arrived first and would be directed to his seat at the rostrum and would wait for a while for his bride to arrive.

In ancient times, there were no priests to preside over a wedding or a marital union unlike in modern times. When the bride (called the Mugoole) arrived, her elder brother, called ‘Muko’, was traditionally handed his chicken to symbolize the payment of dowry. The Muko would then hold the bride and hand her over to the groom. More typically, before the bride would be handed over to the groom, she would be asked to sit down on a mat and would be lectured on marital duties as a wife by the muko (her brother, who is usually the elder). The marital union would be symbolized by the handing over of the bride to the groom. Merry making and feasting would follow thereafter.

At the end of the day, the newly married couple would retire to their bedroom in their new home. It was of strict adherence for the bride to come to her marital home for the first time only on or after the wedding day and not before. It was customary for the Aunty to the bride (called ‘Senga’) to accompany the couple to their bedroom on their wedding night. Senga would first lecture the bride-cum-wife on things pertaining to consummation

when with her husband and would advise her on how to go about matters concerning men generally. It was something very similar to the Kama Sutra. Senga did this on the assumption that the bride-cum-wife was a virgin and has had no carnal knowledge or experience. Senga would not go and leave the couple alone in the bedroom, never! She was supposed to remain behind and watch over the newly married couple do ‘their thing’ while in their bedroom until when they finished. Of course, this is an ancient tradition and has certainly become archaic and primitive in light of today’s Africa. Just imagine, someone, who is not even a stranger, vigilantly watching every thing you do with your spouse on your wedding night!

From reliable traditional sources, the Senga did this to prove for herself whether the bride-cum-wife was actually a virgin or not and whether the groomcum- husband was able to perform well his ‘conjugal’ duties as a husband. In the event that the bride is proven not to be a virgin, the Senga would immediately inform her family and the mother of the bride would be blamed and penalized for her careless upbringing of her daughter. On the other hand, when the Senga proved that the groom-cumhusband cannot perform his ‘conjugal’ duties with his wife, the Senga would give him seven days to find relevant treatment for his impotence and if the problem persisted after the seven days, Senga would take from him the bride and would return her to her parents’ home.

A man who was impotent was believed to have been attacked by a Ram (‘omusajja eyatomerwa endiga’). He was no more considered a man but rather a ‘woman’ and in fact never paid taxes just like other women. Though it was difficult to establish whether a woman is barren or not on the wedding night, she would be observed with time if she

becomes pregnant or not. If however, she is discovered to be barren, even though there wouldn’t be a separation or divorce, the couple’s marital life would not be as blissful as when they would have children. The husband would go back to the Senga for advice on what to do next and normally he woman called ‘Omuja’. This is the only exception where polygamy was sanctioned in ancient African tradition, otherwise polygamy was forbidden and likewise separation was almost unheard of, let alone divorce. The man was supposed to construct a home for his second wife and the second wife was supposed to be submissive to the first wife and their husband.

Customarily, it was a taboo for the Aunty to the man to touch her nephew’s wife, let alone meet with her. She (the Aunty) is called ‘Mukoddomi’. I have not yet figured out exactly why it is a taboo but from what I learnt, it is a tradition that derives its origin from an ancient folk tale.

Edward Kasamba

Alumnus, B.Com 2003-04 Batch

In ancient times, there were no priests to preside over a wedding or a marital union unlike in modern times. When the bride (called the Mugoole) arrived, her elder brother, called ‘Muko’, was traditionally handed his chicken to symbolize the payment of dowry. The Muko would then hold the bride and hand her over to the groom.