Causes and Effects of Poverty on the Economic Development of Bulambuli District

ABSTRACT The study concentrates on causes and effects of poverty on the economic development of Bulambuli district. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish the causes of poverty in Bulambuli District., to examine the effects of Poverty on economic development of Bulambuli District and to identify the viable solutions to curb down poverty in Bulambuli District.The study used a descriptive research design where both qualitative and quantitative data techniques. The quantitative data was obtained using structured questionnaires from different categories of people such as respondents from Bulambuli District, while the qualitative data was obtained from key informants, interviews and observations (Mugenda, O.M, 2003). Qualitative approach was considered because it tries to draw conclusions in terms of concepts and analysis in terms of understanding. A descriptive research is a design which intends to present facts concerning the nature and the status of the situation, as it exists at a time of the study and to describe the present conditions, events or systems based on impressions or reactions of the respondents of the research. The study covered a sample size of 293 respondents who represented the total population in the study. The sampling technique used in this study is purposive sampling method. The findings of the study revealed that 20.47% emphasized that unemployment especially among the youths is the major cause of poverty in Bulambuli District as contended, The findings further revealed that that the poor education system of Uganda is also another major cause of poverty in Bulambuli District as cited, the findings that natural calamities like floods, landslides, which destruct farmers’ crops is also another cause of poverty in the region.The findings revealed that poverty has boosted criminal activities like theft and robbery in the region especially amongst the jobless youths who are always idle with nothing to do because Poverty affected societies have high amount of violence and criminal activities. There can be theft, robbery, murder. The findings revealed that embarking on the NAADs programs can greatly help to boost the agricultural sector and thus eradicate poverty within Bulambuli district which is because Uganda today, the government has been implementing NAADs, The study concludes thatLack of education and Unemployment are a maj or determinant of extreme poverty. Uganda has made some progress in fighting illiteracy with current literacy levels at 76%. Education is funded both by private means and by the government. The study recommends that stakeholders should establish vocational training institutions where the youth can acquire skills in various activities such as carpentry, brick making, and entrepreneurial skills among others, the government should also embark on creating Good Jobs especially youths in Ugandasince itis a great way to reduce poverty, more emphasis should be put towards educating Women because the education of girls and women impacts the rest of the societies in which these girls and women live, the government should collaborate with different stakeholders and NGOs to cater for the health problem due to outbreak of diseases like malaria, cholera, diarrhea, which have tried to claim a lot of lives of people in the region and that the government should review its policies with a view to making them youth-employment friendly