An Examination of the Factors Influencing the Contribution of Local Security to Social Development Case Study: Bugembe Town Council, Jinja District

Abstract

This study critically examined the factors influencing the contribution of local security to social development in Bugembe Town Council, Jinja District. The study was motivated by the persistence of high unemployment rate, limited human capital and corruption in spite of the existence of local security committees that seek to enhance social development. The question that this research sought to answer was, why do unemployment and income inequality persist and yet security committees are supposed to address these problems?

This study employed a case study design, which explored and described the concepts of security and social development that were generated through interviews, photography, focused group discussions, observation and questionnaires. A total of 109 respondents participated in the study originating from seven parishes and eleven villages. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the town council participants and other key informants, and where they were not found, replacements were made. In addition, simple random sampling was employed to select the local community members, to make sure that all the categories of the communities at parish and village levels were represented. Quantitative data was analyzed using excel spreadsheets and qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. The findings have been tabulated, pie charted, bar graphed, described, interpreted, and discussed.

According to the research findings, human security was seen as the main subset of local security that has contributed a lot towards social development. These contributions are visible in social development improvements considered as the freeing of the community members to exercise their rights such as enjoyment of universal education, gender equality, improved standards of living, clean environment and sanitation. Despite these achievements, some challenges such as persistent unemployment, unwelcoming community attitude and poverty were noted.

The study concluded in support for efficient measures such as, social protection programs, community empowerment, bank services, and introduction of commercial agriculture, education to create employment through vocational centers, setting up of private schools to widen employment opportunities and improve standards of education.

Finally the study recommends that ignorance about the existing employment opportunities should be handled via the intermediary social groups such as the youths and women groups. To solve the problem of unemployment, it is necessary to put the minimum wage policy in all the job sectors and more so improving on regular training of the local security committee members.

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