Research Papers

Freedom on Second Hand Goods Trade in Uganda

UBOS (2024) report shows that Uganda’s unemployment rate stands at 12.3%, with female unemployment higher at 14.2%. Thus, the SHGs sector serves as a lifeline, especially for educated youth, who have turned to this business as a stable livelihood amid a saturated formal job market. Further, the report shows that Uganda has 16.9% of its population living below the absolute poverty line, i.e. one US dollar a day, which is way below the international poverty line of $ 3.00 per person per day1. Thus, SHGs trade provides affordable alternatives for this population, especially in an economy where many can’t afford first-hand goods.

From Poverty to Poverty: How Social Media has Impacted the Economic Well-Being of Ugandan Youths

The study was set to investigate how social media affects the youths’ economic well-being in Uganda. It was guided by two major objectives which included; analysing how youths use social media and discussing how the youths’ usage of social media affects their economic well-being. Primary data was collected from a total of 5019 respondents using a closed- ended (structured) questionnaire in which questions were answered by Ugandans from different regions and countries. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS).

Female School Drop Outs in Post Primary Education Institutions in Rural Districts of Uganda

It was found out that it is the lack of school fees arising from rampant poverty that contributes most highly to the female school drop outs with 27% drop outs registered and pregnancies of 16% as well as lack of facilities for girls among others in the period considered by the study; that is between 2015 and 2018. During the study, many girls were requesting for assistance in form of money and sanitary pads from the research team and many argued that the government of Uganda promised them pads to use during their menstrual periods but this had not been done by the time the study was conducted. The study thus recommended that the government should continue constructing schools in hard to reach areas, sensitize parents and the communities on the role of keeping girls at school without dropping out, encourage girls to learn craftsmanship so as to earn some income during holidays to avoid the challenge of school fees, undertake punishments or penalties for those who defile young girls leading to pregnancies, ensure regular counseling and guidance among others. It was also recommended that girls be checked for pregnancy (pregnancy tests) before, during and after the course of each term of study at school so as to reduce on the rate of pregnancies at school. Parents should not make their children to suffer in case there are misunderstandings between the mother and father at home and that lastly, girls who stay with male guardians should always report to their local authorities and school administration in case of sexual harassment.