Police officers have arrested a 60-year-old man for visiting his in-laws for an introduction ceremony without bride price.
Samuel Maikut, a resident of Kitawoi Sub County, Kween District in Uganda visited his in-laws in Bukwo District empty-handed.
The in-laws reported Maikut to the police after spending a lot of cash in preparation for the event, including slaughtering a bull, only for him to turn up with nothing to offer.
His father-in-law Christopher Ngania said he was shocked when he welcomed his son-in-law and other guests who had gathered for a traditional ceremony without bride price.
“We agreed that the groom and his team would come with four cows and three goats among other things but the man came empty handed,” said Ngania.
Ngania explained that they didn’t want to overburden the broom with many expenses when they suggested combining the introduction and wedding ceremony into one event but the groom refused to take the advice.
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“We had agreed to have a ceremony on December 2. We invited him on November 30 and advised him to do one function but he insisted on having the two ceremonies separately,” he said.
The father-in-law explained that Maikut arrived very late on Saturday December 9, past 5 pm after members of the community had eaten the food meant for visitors.
“But we over waited for our visitors and allowed members of the community to eat the food. Interestingly, two ladies arrived at the venue at 5 pm and informed us that the gentleman was coming. He arrived 20 minutes later,” said Ngania.
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Ngania added that he interrogated the son-in-law and alerted the police to arrest him.
However, speaking to The Daily Monitor, apologetic Maikut said he had some challenges that led to the embarrassing incident at his in-laws home.
“I had a team that was organizing the whole event but we had a few challenges,” he said.
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“I am sorry for what happened, but am ready to discuss issues of compensation for the losses involved in the function,” he added.
However, Alfred Chebet, the chairperson of the Kapsumbata clan that Maikut belongs to, told Daily Monitor that the groom did not inform his clan about his plans to marry.
“He was doing most of the things privately with his brother. He told me he had given some items to his in-laws including clothes,” said Chebet.
