On my left hand, on my middle finger, I wear a ring. It’s a reminder to me of my commitment to remain celibate until I marry the women of my dreams (wife still pending). In the UK, and the U.S., we tend to wear wedding rings on our left hand when we get married, or most commonly for women, when they get engaged, they wear a ring on the same finger. Hear in Uganda the same is true when your married, you wear a ring on your ring finger. But when your engaged you wear a ring on your middle finger (where I wear my promise ring), so I was asked by one of the kids at home if I was engaged during dinner one night.
I asked my Uncle Mark for some advice for Uganda, and one of things he said was that they may try and marry you off. . . Something I’m in no rush to do! But just to say, “No thank you, I don’t have to pay for a wife at home!”. Now traditionally in Uganda, the man would have to pay a dowery to the father of the bride to prove he could provide for her and the family they would have. This was a great reason not to marry someone random, and we even had a young gentlemen in church on Sunday who it was announced has agree to pay 8 cows for his bride (she must have been especially pretty I’m told!). Note to future wife, you would be worth lots more than 8 cows. In fact, I shall share all that I have with you for the rest of my life, but I won’t buy your father any cows (sorry future father-in-law). Sadly this is no longer a law in Uganda! And the father can choose not to ask for a dowery, so the advice won’t work anymore, thanks anyway Uncle Mark.
My Father (Jeremy) was after a cow in a recent family trip to Ireland, I better warn my sister (Bekah). . .
