Browsing by Author "Kwikiriza Martin"

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HOME ENVIRONMENT FACTORS AND STREET CHILDREN IN KABALE MUNICIPALITY-KABALE DISTRICT
(UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, 2025-09-17) Kwikiriza Martin
This research was a case study of Kabale Municipality, Kabale District. It was on home environment factors and street children in Kabale Municipality. The study was conducted along the following study objectives: To investigate child abuse on street children in Kabale Municipality, to investigate house hold poverty on street children in Kabale Municipality, and to assess child neglect on street children in Kabale Municipality. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire, observation and focus group discussion from 136 respondents. Descriptive research design was the methodology used to gather systematic factual Information for descriptive purposes and enhanced the researchers understanding of the Phenomenon being studied through observation. Descriptive design permitted the researcher not only to collect the facts for description but also to understand how street children operate in their real-life situation through observation. Respondents were composed of mainly street children in street children’s organizations and street children living mainly on the street and found around garbage collection centers and super markets. Data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using tables, and percentages. The researcher found out that the family, which is supposed to be the bedrock of children's welfare and protection, is today becoming a major cause of the problem of street children. Parents are directly and indirectly sending their children into the streets to beg, steal or engage in petty trade, children are leaving their homes to escape household poverty, physical abuse and child neglect because of the breaking up of family structures. The implications of the problem if not addressed it means that children who are supposed to be the future leaders would continue to get wasted by engaging in un productive and dangerous activities and habits that lead to destruction of life thus having a negative impact on the generations to come. The researcher further contends that not enough is being done to address the problem and that indeed the problem of street children remains an ignored tragedy that is set to have a devastating impact on the development of African countries and the people. This research indicates that the response to the problem has at best been muted and remains sidelined by the government and the general public.