Parents arrested for taking ‘free’ dowry

A man and his wife in Masaka have been arrested on allegations of receiving money by false pretense and breach of contract. Their daughter has also been arrested on similar allegations. The trio was arrested last week in Nyendo, Masaka Municipality. 

It is alleged the man and his wife blocked their daughter from marrying Emmanuel Kasajja, before a congregation at Kitovu Cathedral in Masaka, that had come to witness the marriage.

The bride surprised the congregation as she walked away from the alter as people waited for the couple to exchange the marriage vows. When approached by the bridegroom, she said she had changed her mind because her parents did not approve of the marriage. 

The parents had not come to church to witness the marriage. Mr Kasajja reported the matter to police claiming the woman’s parents had accepted dowry but refused to hand her over. He claimed to have used more than Shs15 million to prepare for the marriage. 

Earlier, he said he had paid for the woman’s education in a vocational institution with the full knowledge of her parents.

In addition, he claimed to have given her parents a solar panel and other gifts as dowry for the woman, however, but was surprised about the parent’s actions. 

However, the father of the woman told police in Nyendo the bridegroom had failed to pay the fully agreed dowry. He said Mr Kasajja had been asked to present a new flat screen TV set, a new motorcycle and a big solar power system but had failed, adding he only presented a small solar system and a few other gifts including beef, sugar and salt.

Mr George Mbabaali, the chairperson of the wedding’s organising committee, said they had agreed with the woman’s parents that they would present the motorcycle and TV set on a later date but where surprised by the turn of events.

Mr Kasajja presented a copy of the letter that the parents had signed assenting to the engagement of their daughter to him. The OC Nyendo Police Station, Christine Namawuba, said the three would be aligned before court on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and bleach of contract. 

Evidence and charges

Mr Kasajja presented a copy of the letter that the parents had signed assenting to the engagement of their daughter to him.
The trio would, according to OC Nyendo Police Station, Christine Namawuba, be produced before court on charges of obtaining money by false pretence and breach of contract.