Protect children rights amid cultural norms, says activist

Mr Wafula appreciated that the children are at school but regretted that their coverage, especially by television stations did not take into consideration protection policies.
“Their faces were not covered so once they grow up and abandon the culture and marriage, they will be haunted and traumatised,” he said.
“We call for communities, cultures and norms that promote children rights. It is wrong to call it a marriage or initiation and while we appreciate it in the context of culture, engaging them is wrong,” Mr Wafula added.

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Boy aged nine marries six-year-old in Buyende- PHOTOS

The two children reportedly started ‘dating’ when the boy was three years old and the girl was just three months of age

Mr Henry Woira, the Isabalangira of Bugabula Chiefdom, which covers Buyende and Kamuli districts, said in Busoga Kingdom, “spirits” choose a wife who should be kept clean and virgin until she is above 18.
“King Mswati III of Swailand carries out an annual marriage (Reed Dance) where he is mandated to choose a virgin, often young. Aware that culture grows, Busoga blends the traditional and modern positive values and has partnered with both government and NGOs to fight child marriages, domestic violence and western invasion,” he said.
Mr Woira denied reports that the children are married or sleep together in coital relationship but only carry traditional visits to their respective families, get introduced to their spirits and are encouraged to complete school.

“Traditionally arranged marriages monitor virginity, keep closer relations and later bring her home. Culturally, we cherish marriage readiness and purity. That is why we offer a goat to the Ssenga (aunt) when the girl’s virginity is proved at marriage,” Mr Woira said.
He said traditionally arranged marriages are often meant to check against genetically transferred illnesses such as sickle cells.
Ms Mandwa Kagulu Nabiryo, the custodian of Bugabula Chiefdom spirits, said the ceremony was a cultural visit in which the two were introduced to the spirits at Iyingo shrine in Kagulu Sub-county.

“Cultural rituals were performed to strengthen them since they are both children of the spirits. The marriage was planned and is being monitored by spirits. [The girl] will continue living with her parents until she has made 18 years then they come together as husband and wife,” Ms Nabiryo said.
She said in the past, parents would ‘book’ daughters-in-law in advance and tie a red cloth around their wrists as a sign of engagement, with vows to keep them virgins.

BACKGROUND

In December 2013, a six-months-old girl ‘introduced’ her three-year-old fiancé to her parents in Kamwokya-Namata Village, Buyengo Sub-county in Jinja District. A memorandum of understanding was reached with the boy’s entourage accepting to pay the ‘dowry’ of 48 cows, 48 goats, 48 chicken and 48 pots of malwa (local millet brew), among others, as instructed by Nambi’s clan.

The boy was allegedly born with two grown teeth in his lower jaw while holding a handful of two-root (herbs) grains in the right hand. When he was six months old, his clan oracle broke the news that his ‘wife-to-be’, known as Nambi, was to be born three years later. In May 2013, the girl was reportedly born with two mature teeth in the lower jaw and ‘spoke’ on delivery.
Shocked, the parents went home and broke the news, much to the shock and awe of many.
In consultation with the oracle, Kintu’s parents located Mzeeyi Gamukibya’s home for an interaction to narrate their ordeals and the kids’ similarities.

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