Gender Dimensions of Aguu (Socially Excluded Youth) in Gulu City, Northern Uganda

الملخص

The African social philosophical sense of ‘Ubuntu’ (‘I am because we are’) and the notion ‘it takes a whole village to raise a child’ is at crossroads in the post-conflict Acholi sub-region in Northern Uganda. Society has relegated its social responsibility and moral values to bringing up children. This study fostered a gender-responsive approach to addressing the Aguu phenomenon in Gulu City. The term ‘Aguu’ does not have an accepted single definition. However, it is used to refer to a group of children and persons between the ages of 6 to 35 years who consider the street as their home and family. This makes the concept of ‘family and home’ fluid and temporal. Whereas society considers them a source of insecurity, this study views them as a ‘floating population’ who have been pulled or pushed into the streets by social, economic, and political factors. The study employed a qualitative and ethnohistorical approach, involving individual interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, archival work, and literature review. The study perceived the Aguu as a distinct social network with a unique agency, identity and culture. The street affects the genders differently. Gender-specific vulnerabilities were evident, perpetuating their social marginalisation and exclusion. Understanding the gender dynamic and dimensions of the Aguu phenomenon is essential for crafting sustainable solutions and interventions. These interventions must be gender-responsive, addressing the unique vulnerabilities and experiences of male and female Aguu members.