MBARARA – The State minister for Gender and Culture Peace Mutuzo has asked girl students of Bishop Stuart University (BSU) to refrain from tagging prices on themselves for marriage under the pretext of bride price.
Ms. Mutuzo said that it is wrong to compel men to pay the bride price and at the end of the day the girl pays the consequences.
“I am not breaking our traditions. If someone has the capacity let him come to your home and appreciate the parents in whichever manner he is willing and can. But don’t tag prices on yourselves for marriage. Girls don’t allow the bride price to begin with yourselves. The man pays the bride price and the woman pays the consequences,” Ms. Mutuzo said amidst thunderous claps from students.
The minister made the remarks while addressing students at BSU main campus in Kakoba Division Mbarara Municipality at a cultural gala.
She maintained that back in the days, there were some practices that were oppressing men and women and that these still exist.
She said: “If they don’t affect you directly, they will affect the community around you. Stand bold, our beloved men in making let’s not emphasize the physical strength in our chest, it is the brain that matter now, and beauty lies in the hands of the beholder.”
She commended BSU for cherishing the values of education but also those of leadership. She asked students to ensure they lead the way, show others the way, and walk the way as their mission statement states.
On alcohol, the minister reminded the students: “We are banning the cheap alcohol that had started intoxicating our children. Alcohol should be to those who have surplus expenditure, not for those who are still struggling, not for those who still depend on their parents. Why can’t you desist from it (alcohol)?”
Prof. Mauda Kamatenesi, the Vice Chancellor BSU, pointed out that the cultural gala aims at enlightening students to remain loyal to their various traditions and culture not only academics in order to promote a holistic education.
“Someone who does not have culture and God that person is nothing because you are not anchored on anything. It is very important for someone to respect his/her roots, that’s why we have seen very many youths getting spoilt because they copy other people’s culture,” Prof. Kamatenesi noted.
