KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's Supreme Court has banned the practice of refunding wedding gifts, known here as bride price, when a marriage ends in divorce.

The court agreed with activists who say the practice undermines the dignity of women but upheld the practice of paying bride price, normally in the form of livestock given by the groom to the bride's family.

Activists who petitioned the court had hoped the whole culture of giving gifts would be banned.

Leah Nabunnya, a spokeswoman for the Mifumi Project, a Ugandan group which launched the case, said the court's decision is a victory for women's rights.

Nabunnya said studies conducted by her group showed that many women are stuck in abusive marriages because quitting means their families will be obligated to make a refund.