Browsing by Author "Twikirize, Janestic Mwende"

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    Ritualistic child sexual abuse in post-conflict Eastern DRC: Factors associated with the phenomenon and implications for social work
    (Child Abuse & Neglect, 2018-07-25) Kasherwa, Amani Clovis; Twikirize, Janestic Mwende
    Ritualistic child sexual abuse (RCSA) is a critical and under-recognised form of child maltreatment prevailing in developing countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), children from specific communities suffer complex forms of RCSA perpetrated with extreme brutality by various individuals and groups of conspirators. Although the DRC has achieved significant milestones towards combatting war-related sexual abuse of women and children, disturbing forms of RCSA, notably child kidnapping, rape, child defilement for fetish and superstitious beliefs, child sexual exploitation, and cult-based child marriage persist and affect many victims. This study examines the factors associated with the resurgence of RCSA in post-conflict eastern DRC. The article also discusses the implications of such forms of abuse for social work practice and education in a post-war context.
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    The Role of Social Work in Poverty Reduction and the Realisation of Millennium Development Goals in Uganda
    (Fountain Publ.., 2013-07-25) Twikirize, Janestic Mwende; Asingwire, Narathius; Omona, Julius; Lubanga, Rosalind; Kafuko, Agatha
    This publication presents the findings of the study on ‘The Role of Social Work in Poverty Reduction and Realisation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Uganda’. The study was undertaken as part of a three-year project on the ‘Promotion of Professional Social Work towards Social Development and Poverty Reduction in East Africa’ (PROSOWO), under the auspices of the Austrian Partnership Programme in Higher Education and Research for Development (APPEAR). The specific objectives were to identify key programmes undertaken to reduce poverty so as to achieve social development, and assess the extent to which professional social workers are engaged in such programmes, their specific roles and responsibilities as well as the approaches and methods used. Further, the study aimed to assess the adequacy of the social work curriculum in preparing social workers to address issues of poverty and social development in the context of MDGs. Issues of gender and contextualisation (culturally relevant social work) were also explored. Field research was undertaken in selected districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Iganga, Bugiri, Mbarara, Gulu and Nwoya between September and December 2011. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to collect data from social work practitioners, employers, clients, educators, students and policy makers.
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    “You must cut that long and stinking thing”: uncovering the lived experiences of uncircumcised pokot women in North- Eastern Uganda
    (BMC Women's Health, 2022-11-04) Kalengo, Noah; Musinguzi, Laban. K.; Twikirize, Janestic Mwende
    Female circumcision remains a dominant practice among the Pokot of North-Eastern Uganda. This paper explores the lived experiences of uncircumcised Pokot women, as they continue to live in a community, where the practice is cherished. This qualitative study adopted an ethnographic research design. The study was based on thirty [30] serial interviews with 15 uncircumcised women in the Pokot local language between August and October 2021. Five [5] Key Informant Interviews were also conducted with key informants from Amudat District. A Focus Group Discussion with women, irrespective of their circumcision status, was organized as an entry point to identify the initial uncircumcised woman. Uncircumcised women were recruited using respondent-driven sampling while key informants were purposively selected. Data were analyzed thematically. Participants were allocated codes to ensure anonymity. Participants expressed understanding of female circumcision, and the procedure although they were not circumcised. Denial of participation in community and cultural functions, rejection by elders and relatives, difficulties in getting marriage partners, denial of conjugal rights and basic needs, refusal to give names to their children, and home desertion were the negative experiences reported by uncircumcised women. Sexual enjoyment during sexual intercourse, epitomized by the ease of reaching orgasms, fewer complications while giving birth as well as reduced risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases were mentioned by participants as their positive experiences. Uncircumcised Pokot women continue to experience unbearable challenges since female circumcision is perceived as the only rite of passage to womanhood. This calls for intensified awareness of the population on the challenges associated with female circumcision refusal while demonstrating the positive experiences mentioned by uncircumcised women, that can be exploited as the beacon of hope.
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    Young, empowered and dignified: reversing the culture of sex work among Uganda’s urban youth through vocational skills training
    (African Journals Online (AJOL), 2019) Twikirize, Janestic Mwende; Mugume, Paul Fredrick; Batemba, Julius
    Sexual exploitation is considered as one of the worst forms of violence against children and women. Whilst a combination of factors have been advanced for involvement in sex work, including poverty and unemployment, lack of schooling, Violence against children and gender- based violence as well as the influence of urbanisation, research has shown that for most adolescent girls and young women in Uganda, sex work is engaged in as a source of livelihood and survival since they lack other viable alternatives. Despite its being criminalised, highly stigmatised and exploitative, young people in Uganda continue to engage in this trade particularly in urban areas. This paper examines outcomes of an intervention implemented by Plan International and Uganda Youth Development Link to empower sexually exploited girls and young women in Kampala, through vocational skills training. Data were collected through an evaluation study involving 210 project beneficiaries. The results show that providing young women with alternative livelihood skills is not only economically empowering but potentially reduces their vulnerability to sexual exploitation.