Abstract:

The study on polygamous practice focused on establishing opportunities and challenges such a practice can offer in achieving socio-economic empowerment. It was premised on how efforts to achieve poverty reduction strategies as espoused in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be compromised by cultural practices such as polygamy. The study was conducted in two sub counties of Aroi and Manibe in Ayivu County, Arua District. As a practice, polygamy dates back to biblical times, and constitutes one of the distinctive features of African marriages, including Uganda. The study therefore sets out to establish the extent to which the nature and trend of polygamous practices determine the socio-economic empowerment opportunities. It examines the challenges associated with polygamous families as well as assesses how the incidences of child abuse, violence and neglect under polygamous families impinge on socio-economic empowerment within a polygamous context. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection and cross- sectional design, the study established that although polygamy is on the decline because of economic hardships and prevalence of HIV/AIDS, the practice still exists and is cherished by the Lugbara community; men engage in polygamous practice largely because of lust and perceived notion that women outnumber men; polygamous practice affects implementation of Government’s socio- economic empowerment programmes; and the welfare of children. The study recommends that the Government and other development agencies undertake sensitization of people about controlling polygamous practices if rural communities are to be socially and economically empowered.