8.0 VULNERABLE GROUPS SUCH AS: ELDERLY, DISABLED, CHILD LABORERS, and IMMIGRANTS
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM
Orphans and Vulnerable children - OVCs constitute a significant proportion of 45% of children in the district.
The major cause of vulnerability to children is the incapacitation of their families to provide basic necessities and the HIV/AIDS pandemic coupled with ignorance of Laws that ensure child protection.
The 1986-bush war in Luwero triangle contributed a lot to orphanage though the situation currently is attributed to diseases like HIV/AIDS malaria and other factors, HIV/AIDS being the major cause of the orphanage in the District.
As a result, many children’s rights have been violated such as denial of property rights in estates of their deceased parents, opting out of school due to lack of scholastic materials, sexual abuse and child labour.
Therefore justifying a need for intervention to reverse the situation so as to ensure equal enjoyment of rights by all children.
For Mubende, in 2002, 31,790 out of 244,155 children had lost atleast one parent (orphans). This was an Orphan hood level of 13% as opposed to 6% in the 1991 census. About 4.5% had lost the father, 3.1% had lost the mum and 2.4% had lost both. There were 67 children who didn’t know whether their parents were dead or alive ie 0.03% of all children.
In 2002, Mubende had 13% of all children who were disabled. In fact, 3.5% of total Mubende population was disabled. The National figure stands at 3.1%.
On census night, (12/13 September 2002), there were 105,966 migrants. This was 24% of total population and there were 11,164 visitors. The majority of the migrants 13.3% were from Kisoro, 12.6% Mbarara and 8.5% Kabale districts. Of the 24% migrants, 23% were internal migrants (Uganda) and 1% external migrants. It is these migrants that have been accused of exerting pressure on all government facilities and damaging ecologically sensitive areas like forests. In areas example Namabale parish where they colonised, land water and sanitation related problems accrue.
Elderly population of 65+yrs was 17,460 and made 4% of the population. With the breakdown of extended family mainly brought about by HIV/AIDS fatalities, and the total absence of social-welfare systems in the country, the elderly are a steadily growing vulnerable group. |
The need for clothing, nutrition supplements, ambulance services, legal aid, economic empowerment, house construction, research and advocacy for vulnerable groups is greater than before in Kassanda North Mubende.
ACT NOW |