A Ugandan woman was left in disbelief after a conversation with three Kenyan women about serving their husbands.

In a video posted by @kyevaerrands on Instagram, the Ugandan woman is seen speaking to several Kenyan women when she asks, “Why wouldn’t you kneel when serving a man food? That’s what you do literally.”

One of the Kenyan women, appearing confused, asks, “You do that in Uganda?”

“Yes!” the Ugandan woman responds, visibly shocked. “Because it is respect. That is respecting your husband. So you give your husband food just like this?” (She gestures to show what she means.)

A Kenyan woman replies casually, “Yes, in fact, they serve themselves.” Another chimes in, “If you’re tired, you throw it at him.”

The conversation takes an even more shocking turn when the Ugandan woman asks, “If he talks, you talk?” The Kenyan women respond with a loud and confident “Yes!” The Ugandan woman then covers her mouth in disbelief.

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When one Kenyan woman says, “If he slaps me, I slap him,” the Ugandan woman is stunned. “You can slap a man?” she asks. “If you slap a man (in Uganda), he will slap you!” she insists.

The video has sparked debate online, with many Kenyans applauding the women for rejecting what they see as outdated traditions. "You’re a wife, not a slave ? I will choose Kenyans always," one Instagram user commented. Another added, “Whether you kneel or not, these men will still cheat.”

Others shared their experiences, with Jesse Kelvin saying, “I got to experience this when I went to Uganda. It was unreal.” Another user, Mwangi, joked, “Her reaction reminds me of that meme: 'Kwani niko nchi ingine?'”

The culture of kneeling in Uganda

In Uganda, kneeling is a cultural practice, mainly among the Baganda people. A Muganda woman is expected to kneel when greeting elders and men or when serving food to her husband. This happens anywhere—at home, in the garden, on the road, even at the bank.

However, in recent years, some influential Ugandan women have spoken against it.

In 2021, Dr. Maggie Kigozi, a women’s rights advocate, urged girls to stop kneeling, arguing that it puts them in vulnerable positions. “Some men persuade girls to greet them in hidden places and then touch them inappropriately,” she warned. “The poor girl is on her knees; she cannot run.”

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Similarly, Former executive director of Oxfam Winnie Byanyima sparked debate when she posted a photo of a young woman kneeling to greet her. “I told her not to kneel, but she insisted that a young woman must show respect this way,” Byanyima wrote. “I don’t agree. Boys don’t kneel. How do we stop this humiliating practice?”

Her post received backlash from many Ugandans, who defended the practice as part of their culture. While some agree that women deserve equal rights, they reject the idea of abandoning long-standing traditions.

The debate continues, with some Ugandans seeing kneeling as a sign of respect, while others view it as outdated and oppressive.