Assessing the nature of child trafficking in Uganda, a case study of Kalangala district

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the nature and dimensions of Child Trafficking in Uganda with the focus on Kalangala District. The study pursued the following objectives: To examine the nature and dimensions of child trafficking in Kalangala district, To examine the causes of child trafficking in Kalangala district and To identify measures to address the problem of child trafficking in Kalangala district. The study was purely qualitative in nature with a relatively small sample size of twenty two respondents. In depth interview guide, a Focused Group Discussion guide, Documentary Review and Observation method were used to collect data from the Survivors of Child Trafficking, Social Workers and Children counsellors, police personnel, parents, local leader a teacher and a fisherman which was analyzed using thematic analysis. The study findings show that Child trafficking in Kalangala District is prevalent in the forms of child marriage, sexual exploitation and commercial, sex tourism and child labor, these are facilitated by poverty, illiteracy and ignorance, gender imbalance, myths and misconceptions and domestic violence. Finally, the study concluded by recommending that there should be enough community sensitization about child trafficking in the island communities, need to increase funding to the district governance, establishment of more police cells in different islands where they do not exist and renovating the existing ones to implement law and order, keeping children in school to keep them away from the eyes of the traffickers, making the community a watchdog against traffickers, strengthening of the justice system through training, empowerment of survivors and introducing anti-trafficking campaigns in the islands.