Wedding à la Uganda!

Time for some news from Uganda!

The highlight since last time has definitely been the introduction ceremony/engagement party yesterday, an essential part of a wedding in Uganda. Before getting married, the groom and his family have to go to the house of the bride and ask for her hand. And we were invited to such an event by Cotilda, as her brother is getting married on Saturday. Our preparations began on Tuesday when we went to town with Cotilda to pick out fabric for our dresses.


Picking out fabric with Cotilda's help

Thursday we picked them up and after a few adjustments, brought them back to the house a tried everything on. It was hilarious! We looked like the fairies from Sleeping Beauty. However, when we arrived at the festivities, we kind of fitted in with all the others wearing beautiful colourful dresses.

We left our house at 9am, went to Cotilda's before starting our journey to Mbarara. It took about 3 hours.

The ceremony itself took about 7 hours, just sitting on our behinds watching the traditions unfold. Our team on one side, the brides on another and the bride and her brides maides in the middle, a total of about 150 people!

I think both families are upperclass as the event must have cost a fortune and they have not even had the wedding yet! A few times we had to get up and help bring the presents from the cars to the brides family or to go out to another tent (just the groom's team) to eat.

Standing in line for the buffet which was delicious!


Cotilda, me, Sophie and Sara at the ceremony just before heading home.

Other than discovering Ugandan traditions we have been working on our first project for school in collaboration with the organisation and it's going pretty well. We'll have our first field trip on Wednesday to attend a farmer's group meeting and interview members. Exiting!...


Discussing with one of the staff members, Ivan,,at the office. This is the room we spend most of our time in whn working at the office. You can see the Project Manager, Wilfred, being busy in the background.

And here we are having lunch at the Banana Chick who 'cures hunger'! This is where we go most days when not eating at home.
Until next time:
Bera bulungi! (Be well)