The livelihood in transition : a case of elderly women in Akitenino village in Uganda

Abstract

This study makes an investigation of the livelihood of elderly women in Uganda. The investigation is aimed at developing an in-depth understanding of how the elderly wornen perceive their basic needs and how they secure them. Given the aim, a sigiiificant part of this study is a devoted discussion of the use of qualitative case-study, in order to compare and contwst tlieir perception and access to resources and services. I singled out old woinen because their livelihood burden reniains on the family, and those without the family to rely or live in deplorable conditions coupled with discriminations suffered from society because of their pender and age. In Uganda, the number of people who are ageing is increasitig rapidly. The demand by elderly people for basic services such as water, food; housing, medical care, transport and income security has also gone up. The challenge to provide them with these services reinains waiting for interventions from the state, families and the local cominunity. The key concepts in the study are livelihood, networks of relationships, basic services and institutional arrangements. It is hoped that this study will provide new insights regarding probleins and possibilities associated with old age in Uganda.