Child trafficking and unemployment in Uganda : a case study of Kampala Capital City

Abstract

This study is on the implications of unemployment on child trafficking in Kampala capital city. Child trafficking is one of the most prevalent vices and an age-long, borderless crime of global proportions whose current perpetration and broad dimensions have enormous negativities on those affected and negative consequences on the populations onto whom it is being carried out. It poses serious threats to the young generation on the African continent including Uganda. Unemployment is the condition where people who are able and willing to work do not have jobs and they have been actively looking for work within the previous or past periods. The study found that unemployment is a global problem and a major life event which can cause a devastating impact on the people’s lives. Among these, luring them into illegal activities which may expose the children to exploitative labour under weird and empty promises all in the cover of acquiring money which has been termed dangerous as child trafficking. Factors lead to unemployment include rural urban migration, poor attitude towards work, absence of actual facilities and opportunities where people can find work etcetera. These limitation factors end up exposing people in urban places like Kampala capital city to engage in criminalities. One of those is the illegally selling off and exposing of children into forced or exploitative labor. This crime of child trafficking is on the rise in Kampala capital city. This study recommends that Ugandans in Kampala capital city Kampala should fully engage or participate in the development programmes and commodity production in agriculture since it is the backbone of the country. In relation to this, the government should create employment opportunities for the population through initiatives such as setting up industries and cottage industries, vocational projects, SACCOS to provide finances and for extending credit to organized participatory projects (businesses) on low interest rates and multiplying skills development. The state should make stringent laws on child trafficking as among those criminalities in urban places like Kampala capital city.