“Marriages shall be entered into with the free consent of the man and the woman intending to marry.” The petition is supported by affidavits of one Felicity Atuki Turner, a founding Director of MIFUMI (U) LTD and those of the other petitioners who give account of horrific experiences they have personally gone through because of the custom of payment of bride price. In order to capture the nature of their complaint, I reproduce in full the affidavit sworn by Felicity Atuki Turner on 5th July 2007 which states as follows:- “AFFIDAVIT I, FELICITY ATUKI TURNER of P O Box 274 Tororo make solemn oath and state as follows:1. THAT I am a founding Director of MIFUMI (U), a non-governmental organization and women’s rights agency and the 1st petitioner herein and I swear this affidavit in that capacity. 2. THAT MIFUMI (U) was registered in 1997 as a non-governmental company under the Non-governmental Registration Statute 1989, with registration no 2032 and on 14th June 2006 it was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee without a share capital, registration No.80828. 3. THAT MIFUMI (U)’s overall mission is to work with rural people to fight the burden of poverty and in particular to protect women from violence and oppression and remove barriers towards their upward mobility, equality and equity. 4. THAT the 1st petitioner institutes this petition in public interest and to uphold and defend the constitution. 5. THAT I believe that all people are born equal and women should be accorded equal status with men both in law and in practice. 6. THAT MIFUMI (U) has been working to protect rural women from domestic violence since 1999 through free advice centers in Tororo District, offering support and legal services to indigent women and through collaboration with women’s organizations in Tororo, Iganga, Busoga, Mbale, Soroti, Karamoja, Lira and Gulu amongst others. 7. THAT in the course of my work I have gained in-depth knowledge and understanding on the subject of bride price and verily believe that it has a negative impact on the status of women. 59