What type of education can be an empowerment tool for the Indigenous women in Uganda? A case study of the Karamajong women of Kampala Uganda.

Abstract

This study investigated what type of education can be used as a tool of empowerment to the Karamajong women and it assessed their experience with formal education because it’s considered as a basic need in Uganda. The study based on data gathered through qualitative methods of in-depth interviews, observation, narratives and secondary sources from the fieldwork conducted in the Kampala suburbs of Kisenyi and Katwe. Karamajong women are facing a lot of stigma, violence and many other hard conditions as they try to earn money for survival, they sell small items like brooms, fruits and some go with children to the streets to beg for survival. While all this happens Karamajong men are at the camp gambling and taking alcohol. The Karamajong women face stigma, oppression of the traditional beliefs and they work hard to support their families. These women need an empowerment approach to go out of that situation and to gain power of enjoying their rights as women. The study, therefore, analyzed the situation of Karamajong women and how it can be improved using empowerment, education and development. However, the study shows that Karamajong women opted for vocational training because they believe that they are short term and may be cost effective.