CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0 Introduction

This chapter presents the study findings in reference to the research objectives. Focus was put on presentation, analysis and discussion of findings in line with study objectives. The chapter first presents respondents’ background features, while other sections present the study findings study objective. The response rate was 100%, as all the 70 respondents responded positively to the study.

4.1 Background Characteristics of Respondents

Table 4.1: Sex of Respondents

Source: Primary Data

The sex distribution for the 70 respondents was such that most respondents (42/70) 60% were female and 40% were male. The involvement of both male and female sexes in the study was due to fact that they are prominent constituents of all households in Kisenyi. Also, both have either perpetrated or been affected by child labour; so they are both potential and actual victims and/or perpetrators of child labour. So, the study was gender sensitive and representative by seeking information from male and female respondents influence the occurrence and control of child labour in society.

Table 4.2: Age Distribution of Respondents

Source: Primary Data

From the table above, majority of respondents 50% were in the age bracket of 31-50 and the minority were below 18years. All respondents below 18 years as regarded as children and these are the actual and potential victims of child labour in the society. Those aged above 18 years included all parents who are the key perpetrators of child labour and are equally the major stakeholders in the control of child labour in their families. The local leaders and police officers are key stakeholders in fighting child labour. Thus, the study captured comprehensive information from children as victims of child labour; and the adults who are the perpetrators and stakeholders in eliminating the vice.

Table 4.3: Level of Education of Respondents

Source: Primary Data

The findings on the levels of education were that highest number of respondents 30/70 (42.9%) were of secondary level and none of the respondents had attained master’s degree. Thus, most of them were either uneducated or attained a maximum of primary education. The education level is a key determinants of respondents’ understanding of the concept of child labour, its dynamic forms, causes, effects, victims, perpetrators, and each stakeholder’s role in eliminating the vice. So, if most of them are less educated, their understanding of child labour could equally be low. Additionally, the education level affects their attitudes towards elimination of child labour.

Table 4.4: Occupation of Respondents

Source: Primary Data

Study findings as indicated in the table above majority were businessman and the minority of the respondents were farmers. This shows that the respondents belonged to different occupations in different sectors-formal, semi-formal and informal, with varying incidence of child labour. What is notable is the presence of peasant farming where child labour is commonest. On the whole, the degree of incidence of child labour varies in each of these sectors as perpetrated by different people in each sector.

4.2. Socio-economic factors for Increasing Rates of Child Labour in Kisenyi

4.2.1 Respondents’ Understanding of Child Labour

The study sought to establish the different ways in which respondents understood child labour. Here, 37 respondents viewed it as subjecting children to harmful forms of work; 24 viewed it as overworking children below 18 years; 6 viewed it as work that is abusive and denies children the right to go to school; 2 defined at as making children do work beyond their ability. Finally, 1 respondent defined child labour as a situation of adults exploiting children for personal gains. So, it can be generally concluded that child labour was viewed to be physically and psychologically harmful to children, denies them chance to attend to school totally or regularly, and is normally imposed on them by adults. Thus, all respondents had abstract ideas as regards child labour and understood its basics, more especially the forms, perpetrators and key victims of the vice in their communities.

4.2.2 Existence of Child Labour in Kisenyi

The study established the respondents’ acknowledgement of the existence of child labour in Kisenyi.  Accordingly, the majority of them, representing 97.1% of the respondents, were fully aware of the existence of child labour in the area; 2.9% were uncertain of its existence, and none of them denied its existence. This strengthened the study and provided a strong ground for its progress as the study theme (child labour) was existent in the study area as acknowledged by all the different respondent categories.

4.2.3 Various Forms of Child Labour in Kisenyi

The various forms of child labour in Kisenyi were established by the study. As presented below;

Table 4.6: Various Forms of Child Labour in Kisenyi

Source: Primary Data

Accordingly, the majority of the respondents (35.7%) cited domestic child workers and the minority indicated drug tracking as the commonest form of child labour in the area..

Additionally, urban informal sector employment was noted as some children migrate to urban areas to look for odd-jobs after dropping out of school or due to family pressure; others some children resorted to self-employment in different activities to make ends meet in their families. Commercial sexual exploitation of children by adults was reported with cases of defilement highly reported. Also there were existence of domestic child workers; and child trafficking by cross-border traders and other illegal gangs in the area. Therefore, from these findings, it can be concluded that child labour manifests itself in various dynamic forms in the study area.

4.2.4. Factors for Increasing Rates of Child Labour in Kisenyi

The factors for the increased rates poverty of child labour in Kisenyi were also identified.

Table 4.5: Factors for Increasing Rates of Child Labour in Kisenyi

Source: Primary Data

The majority of respondents (54.3%) cited insufficient resources and economic hardships as the main cause; high population growth, large families and rural agricultural dominance were noted by 9 respondents apiece; and  least 2.9% cited parental unemployment. Others noted the high levels of illiteracy and ignorance among adults about child labour, rates of urbanization and informal sector, HIV/AIDS and orphan hood, and child neglect by parents as key factors respectively. Gender differences and inequalities, domestic violence, and social, cultural and religious factors. The vulnerability and dependence of children, and delinquency and peer pressure among children were also noted. Notably therefore, the rising cases of child labour in the area are a result of political, social, economic, environmental, internal, external, short term and long term factors.

4.3 Effect of Child labor on the educational achievement

4.3.1 Categories of Children Vulnerable to Child Labour in Kisenyi

Source: Primary Data

The study also discovered the major categories of children who are vulnerable to the vice of child labour in Kisenyi. Orphans were noted by the majority (57.1%) of respondents as the key victims as they are forced to make ends meet sometimes on their own or are exploited by relatives who take care of them. This was followed by the girl-child cited by 30% of the  respondents especially in domestic activities as defined by their cultures and norms; and children living with relatives were noted by 7.1% to be vulnerable to this vice. Other victims included school drop outs, those seek employment at a young age; children living with biological parents noted, delinquent children who fall prey especially to peer pressure to engage in child labour, adopted and abandoned children apiece. Thus, notably child labour is majorly prevalent orphans and other categories of children living either with relatives or even their own biological parents. What is notably is that all these children are indeed vulnerable and can all be exploited by adults in society.

4.3.2 Perpetrators of Child Labour in Kisenyi

The study further established different categories of persons responsible for the prevalence of child labour in Kisenyi. Results are presented below;

Source: Primary Data

Most respondents (40%) quoted biological parents as key promoters of child labour as they subject their own children to this vice right from their own families as family-heads. Also, 31.4% of them identified business men and traders as they recruit children in trade activities like hawking and carrying merchandise; while 11.4% held adult family members and close and distant relatives like brothers, sisters, uncles and aunties also perpetrated child labour. Also, factories and plantation farm owners were noted by 5.7% respondents to recruit children in on-farm and off-farm labour; others cited schools as another place where teachers subject the school children to child labour on school farms. Other respondents argued that rebel groups and other criminal groups promoted child labour by recruiting children in activities like drug trafficking. Thus, it shows that child labour in society is perpetuated by different categories of people and the community at large, starting from individual families, with biological parents playing a key role in promoting the vice.

Effects of Child Labour in Kisenyi on education of children

The study further presented the effects of child labour on the education, where the majority of the respondents, 22 respondents reported that child labour caused physical harm and injuries to children as victims; 13 noted that it led to health hazards and diseases to children; 10 noted low education levels and high school drop­outs among affected children as they are forced to balance work and school and most of them may drop out of school. Further, 9 of them cited high child morbidity and mortality rates among victims of child labour as the effects may be so destructive and lead to death of victims; while 8 apiece noted that child labour led to psychological torture or depression and stress among children and children’s negative attitude and dislike for work when they graduate to adulthood due to horrible adulthood experiences at work. The increased child sexual abuse in commercial sex was cited by 7 respondents; 5 respondents argued that child labour led to increased moral decline among children when engaged in illegal activities like commercial sex. Finally, 3 apiece argued that child labour led to family breakdowns, and perpetuated the vicious cycle of poverty in families. Therefore, it is clear that child labour leaves destructive effects on the children as its victims. It affects their physical, psychological, educational, moral and social spheres of life in the short, medium and long-term. It also spreads to families of such children, local communities, and the economy, leaving both short and long-term undesirable political, social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

4.4 Strategies to reduce on the prevalence of child labour among families

Responsibility for Fighting Child Labour in Kisenyi

The study also established different categories of stakeholders responsible for the fight against child labour are outlined. Most respondents, 22 respondents, emphasized that parents were the key people in fighting child labour. Also, 15 and 14 respondents quoted police and local leaders respectively to play a key part; while 13 noted the key role of the community, and 10 of them pointed out the government as a key stakeholder. Finally, 4 apiece identified children themselves and NGOs and civil society, and 2 of them held labour unions responsible for fighting the vice of child labour. This shows that the elimination of child labour is a multi-stakeholder effort, starting with the family to the community, government, and other law enforcement bodies with key binding roles in the process.

Measures to Control Child Labour in Kisenyi

The different measures that can be taken to control child labour in Kisenyi were noted. Here, 15 respondents cited the need for sensitization and awareness creation among masses on the forms, causes, effects and remedies of child labour to make them more vigilant in fighting the vice. Also, 13 of them forwarded the need for prosecution of perpetrators of child labour under national labour laws; and 12 urged for strengthening child protection laws against child labour. Also, 8 of the respondents apiece cited the need for strengthening labour laws and encouraging children to attend school. Further, 6 of them suggested full exposure of child labour in the media and other platforms to create more awareness of its forms, causes and effects; while 5 urged for partnerships among different stakeholders like community, police, local leaders and civil society to eliminate child labour.

Most respondents 13 respondents cited the need for social, cultural and religious reforms, as well as enhancing political stabilization and border security to curb cross border child trafficking and use of children in illegal cross border trade. The counselling of victims of child labour, and controlling rural-urban migration among children was forwarded by 4 of them; and. Therefore, the curbing of child labour involves different measures taken by different parties including government, police, parents, the community, local leaders and even the victims of child labour themselves.

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0 Introduction

This chapter presents a summary of the study findings, conclusion(s) drawn, recommendations, and areas for further research basing on study findings. The study involved an examination of factors for increased rate of child labour among families in Kisenyi, Kampala district. The summary of findings is based on the specific objectives of the study as summarized below;

5.1 Discussion of Study Findings

Discussion on Forms of Child Labour

The study first sought the different ways in which respondents understood child labour. Generally, all the definitions centred on subjecting children below eighteen years to harmful forms of work as in line with the definition of MOGLSD (2004). One respondent viewed child labour as “forms of work that are beyond the physical and mental capability of children below eighteen years.” Another respondent, during the interview, emphasized that, “child labour is abusive and denies children the right to go to school and is harmful for their physically and psychologically development”. Basing on their definitions, the respondents confirmed the existence of child labour in Kisenyi. From the researcher’s perspective, child labour in the area is manifested in many dynamic forms. What is clear though, is that the concept of child labour is not new but has only been under-looked.

The major form of child labour noted was agricultural farm labour. One of the children interviewed revealed that: “when there is a lot of work, he forces me to miss school to help them with the garden work”. One respondent lamented. This revelation concurs with the finding of Ambadaker et al (1999) who found out that 60%-70% of child labourers in LDCs work in the agricultural sector. Being an integral part of any family, children too are inevitably dragged into farm activities as family labour.

The other major form identified was drug trafficking. One respondent observed that: “‘Some children in this area have been taken away by businessmen, sometimes with the consent of their parents who are paid a sum of money by some traders who intend to use them in running their business”. This agrees with Mugume (2008) who stated that some children are used by traders to avoid taxes and other legal trade mechanisms. The other major form of child labour was urban informal sector employment, where one respondent noted that: “Some of our children have dropped out of school and gone to the city to look for jobs so that they can earn a living and also help their families because of the high level of poverty in the area”. The other forms of the vice were self-employment by children in various activities, commercial sexual exploitation, domestic child workers, forced child labour, apprenticeships in various organizations; and child trafficking. To the researcher, these revelations aid in exposing the forms of child labour to which children are subjected. What should be noted is that respondents are aware of the vice and how it is carried out.

The major victims of child labour were orphans, the girl-child, children living with relatives, school drop outs, children living with biological parents, delinquents, adopted and abandoned children. One respondent observed that: “In most families, girls are more abused by being made to perform most domestic activities like cooking and laundry. The reason is that they are being trained on how to perform their future roles when they get married”. The key perpetrators of child labour included biological parents, business men and traders, adult family members, close and distant relatives, factories and plantation farms, schools, rebel groups and other criminal groups. One respondent noted that, “The major people responsible for child labour in this area are parents. They directly involve children in heavy work and sometimes allow children to be so free to do anything including child labour activities like commercial garden work on other people’s farms or leaving the village at a young age to look for jobs in towns. These all agree with the findings of UYDEL (2007) and COMEECA (2011). The researcher intervenes, there are many perpetrators of child labour; but the influence of parents both in perpetrating and controlling the vice of child labour is fundamental.

The vulnerable and dependent nature of children was also noted and this finding concurs with that of UYDEL (2009), that children are entangled in high degree of economic vulnerability especially when they lack essentials like food, water and shelter. One respondent stressed that: “In Kira, a child has no say and is supposed to obey the adults’ commands. So, if given work to do, he/she has no option but to do it; otherwise it would imply disobedience and more punishment”. The gender differences and inequalities were central as one girl interviewed narrated her ordeal: “In our home, I do most of the work including cooking, washing utensils and plates, fetching water and firewood while my brothers who are even older than me are given very little work to do. They say I must do more so that I grow up into a hardworking woman and I don’t disappoint them when I get married”. The researcher observed that the traditional belief that the girl child must learn all tasks in the home is still relevant in the area of study. Parents rely on this to make girls work more than boys.

Notably, one police officer cited the limited exposure of child labour in the area as a major fuelling factor. She stated that: “The police force has nearly failed to control child labour because its cases rarely come into the spotlight. It takes place in hidden homesteads and even victims are too young to report such cases are intimidated by the perpetrators. The community too has not done much to cooperate with police to weed out child labour by not reporting such cases”. The researcher noted that police cannot do much to control child labour without the joint effort of parents, the community and most importantly, children as victims. If they do not report such cases, police has no way of convicting the criminals since child labour is quite hidden. The other factors included population growth and large families, the rural agricultural dominance which is labour intensive and with a high participation rate of children; the high rates of urbanization and growth of informal sector that tend to attract children, high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates and orphan hood, child neglect by parents, domestic violence, social, cultural and religious factors, delinquency and peer pressure, weak labour laws, demand for cheap labour, civil wars or armed conflicts. Therefore, child labour, along with its numerous dynamic forms, originates from a wide range of economic, political and social factors.

Discussion on Effects of Child Labour

The effects of child labour included physical harm to children as victims. It agrees with Emerson and Souza (2006) who noted that children do heavy work and their spines and pelvis leading to skeletal damage and it affects their physical stature by 30%. One child interviewed lamented that: “I also always feel tired and frequent headache because of heavy work at home”. The health hazards and spread of diseases to children were also noted just as did The Hague (2010) that observed that occupational and health and safety hazards cause immediate implications and skin irritations and long terms effects like cancer, IQ reduction and infertility. As one respondent admitted: “Some sicknesses that these children develop is because of the heavy work they do which is beyond their capacity”. Thus, the researcher also concludes that child labour causes physical and health hazards to children.

The low education levels and high school drop-outs was noted and this agrees with Canagarajah and Nielsen (1999) who noted that children who work face the risk of denial of education and school attendance is affected by time spent at work. One child lamented that: “Every week, I miss one school day to help my parents with farm work. And in the period of harvest, I can even miss school for a whole week”. Another child added: “I always go to school very late and tired after doing garden work for almost two hours. When I reach late, the teacher punishes me sometimes by caning or more garden work in the school garden”. The researcher’s view is that, work and school are two competing alternatives for some children in the study area; and the intensity of the former greatly undermines the latter. The others major effects included high child morbidity and mortality rates; psychological torture and stress among children; children’s dislike for work in adulthood; increased child sexual abuse and moral decline; family breakdowns, and vicious cycle of poverty.

Measures to reduce on the prevalence of child labour among families

To control child labour, parents, police, local leaders, community, government, children, NGOs, and labour unions were cited. The steps were: sensitization and awareness creation, prosecution of perpetrators of child labour; strengthening child protection and labour laws, encouraging children to attend school; exposure of child labour cases, partnerships among stakeholders, counselling of victims, controlling rural-urban migration; social, cultural and religious reforms; and political stabilization and security. One parent stresses that: “The parents have the greatest role to play in controlling child labour, being the heads of families where these children live. We cannot blame the police or other people when we are the very ones engaging children in heavy work in our homes”. Thus, controlling child labour is a multi-stakeholder task that requires their coordination as well.

5.2 Conclusion

Child labour is a major concern for the government, NGOs, development agencies like 1LO, health practitioners and the entire population in Uganda and globally. Many conclusions can be drawn on the incidence, forms, perpetrators, victims, causes, effects, and remedies to the social vice of child labor. It burdens children below eighteen years to psychologically and physically harmful forms of work like farm work, child soldiers, cross-border smuggling and drug trafficking, urban informal sector work, self-employment, commercial sex, domestic child workers, child trafficking, forced child labour and apprenticeships. The victims are orphans, the girl-child, children living with relatives and even biological parents, school drop outs, delinquents, adopted and abandoned children; while the major promoters range from biological parents, business men and traders, relatives, factories and plantation farms, schools, or rebel groups.

Child labour is a product of the interplay of political, social, economic and external factors that relate to the local population or demographics, labour and child protection sectors, government and the extraneous environment. The major ones are: poverty and economic hardships; high population growth, agriculture, ignorance, urbanization, HIV/AIDS and orphan hood, child neglect, domestic violence, social, cultural and religious factors, children’s vulnerability, and weak national labour and child protection laws. Its effects include physical and psychological harm to children; health hazards and diseases; low education levels and high school drop-outs; high child morbidity and mortality rates; children’s dislike in adulthood; increased child sexual abuse and moral decline; family breakdowns, and perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty in families. So, it is necessary to take measures to control this vice; including: sensitization and awareness creation, prosecution of perpetrators; strengthening child protection and labour laws, encouraging children to attend school; exposure of child labour, partnerships, controlling rural-urban migration; social, cultural and religious reforms; and enhancing political stabilization. This requires the joint effort of parents, police, local leaders the community, government, children, NGOs, civil society, and labour unions.

5.3 Recommendations

Basing on the study findings and the conclusion drawn, the recommendations derived for the public, government, children, laws enforcers, development agencies and other stakeholders include:

First and foremost, the study forwards the need for massive sensitization of parents, children, and the general public on child labour, including its forms, victims, perpetrators, causes, its effects on children and the community, and their roles and other responsibilities in curbing the vice. This will help to enlighten them so that they become collectively vigilant in monitoring and fighting the vice.

The study also recommends the need for educational reforms so that the education system and the major elements of the education processes are less burdening and yet more convenient for children to support their school attendance. This would minimise the tendency of some children dropping out of school early to seek odd jobs, especially in the urban informal sector.

There is also need for government, local leaders, and NGOs need to take measures to empower children as one way of curbing child labour. When empowered with knowledge and information on child labour and their rights, children can aid in the fight by identifying the forms of child labour they are subjected to and effectively reporting such cases to relevant authorities for action.

There is need to strengthen the national labour laws and the police force as the law enforcement body in a bid to curb child labour. The government should revise its labour laws to incriminate child labour and strengthen the police force and provide adequate resources to fight child labour.

Finally, the study forwards the need for the government to provide more economic opportunities for the predominantly poor rural families to increase their incomes and improve livelihoods. This will lure them away from exploiting young children to increase family earnings and improve welfare.

5.4 Areas for Further Research

The study identified the following areas for further research:

1. To conduct a comparative study on the incidence of child labour in all regions of Uganda.
2. To analyse the long-term effect of child labour on the growth and development of the child.

• To establish the major steps being taken to curb chid labour in Uganda.

1. To analyse the long term effect of child labour on national economic growth and development.