Child Abuse and Neglect in Uganda

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxvii

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2. Introduction

   • David Kaawa-Mafigiri, Eddy Joshua Walakira

   Pages 1-8

3. Research and Theory

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 9-9

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   2. Building Research Evidence and Collaborative Partnerships in Uganda to Prevent and Protect Children Against Violence: Concerns and Priorities for Action

      • Eddy Joshua Walakira, Daniel Kikulwe, Ronald Luwangula, David Kaawa-Mafigiri, Badru Bukenya

      Pages 11-31

   3. “Situated” Understandings of Child Abuse and Maltreatment in Uganda

      • Gloria Kimuli Seruwagi

      Pages 33-48

   4. Proverbs and Child Protection: A Case Study of Three Bantu Languages: Luganda, Lusoga and Runyankole

      • Paul Bukuluki, Aloysious Nnyombi, Jude T. Rwemisisi, Ronald Luwangula, Ronard Mukuye, Ismael Ddumba-Nyanzi

      Pages 49-68

   5. Child Maltreatment in Uganda: Discourses and Representations in the Ugandan Print Media

      • Denis Muhangi

      Pages 69-91

4. Community and Child Protection

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 93-93

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   2. Children and Domestic Water Collection in Uganda: Exploring Policy and Intervention Options that Promote Child Protection

      • Firminus Mugumya, Richard B. Asaba, Innocent Royal Kamya, Narathius Asingwire

      Pages 95-112

   3. Matriarchy in Patriarchal Societies: Burden of Care of Maternal Relatives and Vulnerability of Orphans from HIV Affected Households in Luwero District Uganda

      • Paul Bukuluki, David Kaawa-Mafigiri, Jude T. Rwemisisi

      Pages 113-126

5. Culturally Specific Forms of Child Maltreatment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 127-127

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   2. The Female Genital Mutilation Economy and the Rights of the Girl Child in Northeastern Uganda

      • Eric Awich Ochen, Laban Kashaija Musinguzi, Esther Nanfuka Kalule, Eugene Gerald Ssemakula, Rebecca Kukundakwe, Chris C. Opesen et al.

      Pages 129-143

   3. Dilemmas of Child “Sacrifice and Mutilation” in Uganda: Meanings, Causes, and Explanations

      • Paul Bukuluki, Simon Fellows, Ronald Luwangula

      Pages 145-177

   4. Perpetrators or Protectors of Children Against Violence: Police Officers in Uganda and Their Encounters with Children in Street Situations

      • Innocent Royal Kamya, Eddy Joshua Walakira

      Pages 179-197

6. Child Rights and Justice for Children

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 199-199

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   2. Negotiating Restorative and Retributive Justice in Access to Justice for Survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Post-conflict Northern Uganda

      • Paul Bukuluki, Ismael Ddumba-Nyanzi, John David Kisuule, Berit Schei, Johanne Sundby

      Pages 201-225

   3. Human Rights Abuse and Deprivation of Childhood: A Case of Girl Mothers in Northern Uganda

      • Sarah Kamya

      Pages 227-249

7. Responses to Child Maltreatment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 251-251

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   2. System Strengthening to Improve Alternative Care for Neglected and Child Survivors of Violence in Uganda: Critical Areas for Consideration

      • Eddy Joshua Walakira, Daniel Kikulwe, Ronald Luwangula, Mark Riley, Badru Bukenya, Ismael Ddumba-Nyanzi

      Pages 253-270

   3. Do Child Rights Legislation and Policies Effectively Protect Children from Maltreatment? Reflection from a Nationwide Sectoral In-Depth Analysis

      • Eric Awich Ochen, John Ssengendo, Elinor Wanyama Chemonges

      Pages 271-296

This book provides a unique perspective on addressing issues of various forms of violence against children from scholars within their own country. Bringing together cross-disciplinary expertise, this volume addresses a vast range of topics related to child abuse and neglect in Uganda.  


Exploring areas from the protection of street children to cultural proverbs related to child maltreatment, this volume examines issues both specific to the Ugandan contexts as well as broadly experienced in child maltreatment work in non-Euro-American countries. This book surveys the breadth of the child protection field, covering issues of children’s universal rights, challenges of protection and ethical quandaries in researching and addressing maltreatment.

• Children and Domestic Water Collection in Rural Uganda
• Prevention and Response to Violence Against Children
• Workforce for Uganda’s Local Governments
• Education in the Reintegration of Children
• Problems with Uganda’s Juvenile Justice System
• Child Rights Abuse and Neglect in Uganda’s HIV/AIDS
• Social Stigma towards Children of Prisoners
• Community and Child Protection in Uganda
• Promoting Child Protection
• Improving Alternative Care for Neglected and Child Survivors
• Human Rights in Uganda
• Deprivation of Childhood in Uganda
• Culturally Specific Forms of Child Maltreatment
• maternal and child health
• childhood studies

• Department of Social Work and Social Administration, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

  David Kaawa-Mafigiri

• Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Center for Social Science Research on AIDS (CeSSRA), School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

  Eddy Joshua Walakira

Dr. David Kaawa-Mafigiri is a Senior Lecturer in the Dept of Social Work and Social Administration, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University where he lectures in the health and health care track including an urban health course. Dr. Mafigiri is a medical anthropologist with public health training and served as the Associate Director of the Center for Social Sciences Research on AIDS (CeSSRA) a collaborative effort between the departments of anthropology, epidemiology and biostatistics and bioethics at Case Western Reserve and social and medical researchers at Makerere University and the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in Kampala. Dr. Mafigiri has published book chapters, journal articles, working papers and policy briefs including in the area of child wellbeing.



Dr. Eddy J. Walakira lectures at Makerere University in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, School of Social Sciences. He holds a PhD from the University of Vienna in Social and Cultural Anthropology. He obtained a Masters in Development Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Children and Youth from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University, Netherlands. He holds a Bachelor in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University. He lectures and researches mostly on issues of vulnerable children and youth. He has offered advisory services to several international organisations and local NGOs in Africa working with Children and Youth particularly on themes linked to child rights, child protection, social protection, child labour, HIV and AIDS, youth empowerment, programming for children and youth, and upward policy analysis and advocacy.  He has been instrumental in leading teams in the development of national action plans on Orphans and other vulnerable children, and the development of practice focused curricula for mid-career and long serving professionals in the field of child protection, and alternative care for children.  

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