CULTURAL BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE SOCIAL WORK CHILD PROTECTION INTERVENTIONS: A CASE OF BANYOLE TRIBE IN BUTALEJA DISTRICT
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Date
2025-09-15
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UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Abstract
The study investigated the cultural barriers to effective social work child protection interventions
among the Banyole in Butaleja district. It was a qualitative study and used interviews, focus group
discussions to obtain data from the 32 respondents.
Among the study's important findings were cultural practices that favored child welfare, which
included possession of knowledge about child protection/rights, a service access system through
kinship, and the existence of an elderly judicial system for child abuse. Some prohibitive norms
emerged, and these included respect for patriarchal structures that restrict children’s opportunities
and foster harmful practices such as early marriage, involvement of children in clan spiritual
performance like unavoidable traditional worshipping, and helping child right abusers to hide when
authorities like police look for them. Suggested solutions for the conflicting norms with social work
in child protection included training social workers about local cultures, raising awareness on child
rights and protection, and involving respected community figures in child protection initiatives.
Conclusively, effective social work practice with children in among the Banyole is sometimes
hindered by the non-material/intrinsic culture which take the shape of spiritual possession (ghost
worshipping) especially girls and patriarchal structure with authorities for decision making that
restrict children opportunities and foster harmful practices such as child labour, early marriage
although there were positive norms that social workers can utilize to improve the welfare of children
including use of elderly judicial system for child abuse.
The recommended involvement of duly respected traditional leaders and elders should be crucial to
allow social workers and Non-Governmental Organizations to influence public opinion and norms
positively. Thus, they would provide the necessary leadership toward changing harmful norms and,
in turn, allow the community to appreciate values and beliefs from a social work perspective and
framework, towards positive change.
Description
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH