Uganda’s Supreme Court has ruled that men demanding a refund of the bride price after a failed marriage is dehumanising to women.
Lead Justice Jotham Tumwesigye said it was “unfair” for the parents of the woman to be asked to refund the bride price after years of marriage.
He said it was unlikely they would have kept the property that had changed hands.
The court’s ruling will likely see men pay smaller bride prices, made up of things like cattle, cars, money and appliances.
Critics have said the tradition of paying a bride price can trap women in abusive marriages, as women want to protect their families who cannot repay the groom.
The bride price tradition has also been seen as encouraging too many early marriages.