The Influence Of Child Protection Initiatives On The Promotion Of Children’s Rights In Uganda: A Case Study Of Kyenjojo Town Council

TABLE CONTENTS

DECLARATION .i

APPROVAL jj

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iv

TABLE CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES viii

LIST OF FIGURES ix

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.0 Introduction 1.

1.1 Background to the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 4

1.3.Objectives of study 7

1.3.1 General Objective 7

1.3.2 Specific objective 7

1.4 Research Questions 7

1.5 Scope of the study 7

1.6 Significance of the study 8

1.7 Definition of key terms and concepts 8

1.8 Conceptual Framework 10

CHAPTERTWO 11

LITERATURE REVIEW 11

2.0 Introduction 11

2.1 Child Protection Initiatives 11

2.2 Government Contribution to child protection 12

2.3 Government challenges on child protection 13

2.4 Trends of child abuse 14

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2.5 Possible sustainable solutions to child protection concerns 15

2.6 Summary of the literature review 17

CHAPTER THREE 19

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 19

3.0 Introduction 19

3.1 Research Design 19

3.2 Area of the study 20

3.3 Population of the Study 20

3.4 Sample size and Sample Technical 20

3.4.1 Sample Size 20

3.4.2 Sampling techniques 20

3.5 Data collection methods and instruments 21

3.5.1. Focus Group Discussions 21

3.5.2 Documents review 21

3.6 Quality Control Methods 21

3.7 Data analysis techniques 21

3.8 Ethical considerations 22

3.9 Limitations of the study 22

CHAPTER FOUR 23

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS

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4.0 Introduction 23

4.1 Socio-demographic Characteristics 23

4.1.1 Age of the respondents 23

4.1.2 Marital Status of the respondents 24

4.1.3 Gender of the respondents 26

4.1.4 Educational status of the respondents 27

4.2 The contributions of government towards Child Protection initiatives in

Kyenjojo district 29

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to influence of child protection initiatives on the promotion of

children’s rights in Uganda: The study was guided by the following objectives, (i) to assess

governments’ contribution in Child Protection initiatives in Kyenjojo district. (ii). to

assess the contribution of child Protection initiatives in Kyenjojo district. (iii). to

examine the challenges encountered by government in Child Protection in Kyenjojo

district. (iv). to generate viable and sustainable solutions to challenges encountered by

government in Child Protection in Kyenjojo district. Basing on the findings of the

study, the researcher concludes that serious child protection challenges exist

throughout Uganda, and are worse in Kyenjojo district. Children are faced with

physical, sexual and psychological violence in all social environments including

schools, health and justice facilities, at home and in the community. A participatory

research project carried out by War Child in July 2007 among 400 children in

Kyenjojo district showed how children, both in and out of school, are being exposed to

multiple forms of sexual, physical and emotional abuse and are also coming into

conflict with the law. Acute poverty in the region means that many children are

resorting to negative survival strategies such as petty crime and survival sex.

Conclusively the study has been significant positive development towards capacity of

the government officials and child protection committee members in Kyenjojo district

in particular. The officials and most of the committee members are trained; they know

their roles and understand technical aspects of supporting survivors. They have

capacity to continue with basic work of child protection provided Sub County and

district is able to provide leadership. However it must be noted that few of the cultural

practices of Kyenjojo district are not in conformity with modern practices or with the

law of the land such as early child marriage, issues of handling defilement and rape,

schooling of children etc. Continuation of such practices could also be attributed to

weak government presence at the grassroots level. Hence there is need for continued

coaching to child protection committee members to handle such issues and intensive

dialogues with the communities for behavioural change. There is also need for

strengthening outreach of the local government through appropriate staffing,

budgeting and allocation of resources for long term sustainability of child protection

initiatives.

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