Engagement rings are often seen as symbols of commitment and future marriage. But if a couple decides not to marry, a common question arises: who keeps the ring? Recent legal decisions have brought clarity to this issue in Massachusetts, while in Uganda, customs and evolving legal principles shape the answer differently.

In the United States, engagement rings are generally treated as “conditional gifts” given with the expectation of marriage. If the marriage does not take place, the person who gave the ring (the donor) typically has a right to reclaim it. Historically, Massachusetts used a fault-based approach to decide such cases—if the recipient was deemed at fault for the breakup, they would need to return the ring.

In a recent landmark decision, however, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court moved away from this fault-based approach. Now, the court holds that an engagement ring should be returned to the donor regardless of who ended the engagement or the reasons behind it. The court emphasized that the ring is given with the condition that marriage will follow. If that condition is not met, the ring is to be returned to the person who gave it.

This ruling aligns Massachusetts with the majority of U.S. states that consider engagement rings as conditional gifts. By removing the need to determine who is at fault, the ruling simplifies disputes over engagement rings, providing a straightforward resolution for couples facing such situations.

In Uganda, the treatment of engagement rings in the event of a breakup is less defined by the courts and more influenced by cultural practices and recent legal principles. Ugandan culture places significant importance on “bride price,” a traditional gift or payment from the groom’s family to the bride’s family as part of marriage formalities. In 2015, the Ugandan Supreme Court ruled that returning the bride price in cases of divorce is unconstitutional. This decision aimed to protect women’s rights and end the practice of treating marriage as a financial transaction.

In Uganda, the situation is more complex and influenced heavily by cultural practices and broader legal principles. There is no specific law that directly requiring the return of an engagement ring after a breakup. Instead, courts often look to customary practices, such as the tradition of bride price, which involves gifts exchanged during courtship and marriage negotiations. In 2015, the Supreme Court of Uganda ruled that bride price is not refundable in cases of divorce, reflecting the idea that gifts given in the context of marriage or engagement are not easily reclaimable. This perspective extends to engagement rings, where the emphasis is on the cultural and relational significance of the gift rather than its legal status as a conditional asset.

A recent ruling by Hon. Justice Musa Ssekaana of the High Court of Uganda further solidifies this viewpoint. In a case where a man sought to recover money and gifts given to his fiancée, Justice Ssekaana held that gifts exchanged in the context of a romantic relationship are not recoverable. The judge emphasized that, unless there is a clear agreement stating otherwise, such gifts are seen as part of the romantic relationship and cannot be reclaimed if the relationship ends.

This judicial stance suggests that if an engagement ring is viewed as a gift given within the context of a romantic relationship, it too would not be subject to recovery. This aligns with the broader cultural understanding in Uganda, where the significance of the engagement gift goes beyond its material value and is seen as a symbol of the bond between the couple.

The issue of who keeps the engagement ring after a breakup varies significantly between jurisdictions. In some countries as is the case of Massachusetts, the law provides a clear answer: the ring is a conditional gift that must be returned if the marriage does not happen. In Uganda and many African communities, the emphasis is on the cultural and relational aspects of the gift, with courts generally treating it as non-recoverable unless otherwise agreed upon.

These differing approaches show the importance of understanding the legal and cultural context when navigating the aftermath of a broken engagement. For those facing this situation, it is crucial to be aware of the local legal position and consider having clear agreements to avoid potential disputes.