Causes and effects of poverty among the youth: a case study of Kikoni Kawempe division-Kampala district

Abstract

The study emphasized the determination of the causes and effects of poverty among the youth in Uganda using the study population of Kikoni to help understand the phenomenon at a wider view through inference with the main objective of finding the causes and effects plus finding the best remedy to the escalating poverty levels. Secondary data was used collected using a self-designed questionnaire where the Cochran formula aided in the determination of the sample size. The data was analyzed using STATA version 15 (5% level of significance) at both univariate, bivariate and multivariate level in confirmation with the assumptions that ought to be met. The research findings ascertained a significant effect between poverty and expected monthly expenditure, age and economic status with p-values of 0.004, 0.010 and 0.044 respectively and the other independent variables had no significant effect at the bivariate level. Only one variable i.e. Expected monthly income had a statistically effect to poverty at multivariate level of analysis with a p-value of 0.039. The study made an immense contribution to the existing empirical knowledge through quantifying the existing relationships and most importantly focusing on the most vulnerable group which are the youth that unfortunately make the largest proportion of the Ugandan population. It also suggested further areas of research to improve knowledge including but not limited to the effect of corruption on poverty and level of income disparities among the population. To reduce the spillover effects of poverty to both the population and the economy, the researcher came up with policy recommendations based on the study findings i.e. need for Educational reforms, Putting an end to corruption and embezzlement of funds and provision of basic needs by the government to ensure long term sustainability of welfare among the masses.