Towards an Indigenised Social Work Practice to Better Address Elder Abuse and Neglect in Uganda

Abstract: Understanding and addressing elder abuse in the Global South is complex as it occurs in different contexts and cultures. To be fully grasped and addressed, this problem demands indigenised theories, concepts, and models ooted in the people’s cultures and worldviews. While substantial efforts are being made to indigenise social work to tackle local challenges, there seems to be less effort to integrate indigenous concepts and theories into gerontological social work practice in Africa. This study proposes indigenised social work practices as a better alternative to Westernised interventions to address elder abuse in Uganda. It answers the principal question: How can social work develop indigenised social work practice to better address elder abuse in Uganda? The overall aim is to gain an indepth understanding of how social work practice can develop indigenised social work interventions to effectively address the abuse of older people. The thesis answers four specific questions: (1) In what ways do older people in Uganda experience abuse and how do they make sense of their experiences? (2) How do social workers respond to elder abuse in Uganda? (3) How do social workers in Uganda perceive indigenised social work practice? and (4) How can social work practice develop indigenised social work practice to better address elder abuse?The thesis builds on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions held with older people and social workers in the five districts of Hoima, Gulu, Luwero, Wakiso, and Jinja. The results show that participants largely viewed their abuse from a cultural perspective, contrary to the West’s perception based on a discourse of human rights. Paradoxically, most of the current safeguarding interventions fall under therapeutic, remedial, and curative approaches despite the elders’ perceptions of their abuse as a cultural problem. Results show three images of indigenised social work practice as (1) collective action and mutuality, (2) communal welfare and respect for life, and (3) liberation and restoration. These images denote the principles of the local cultures and world views. The results call for family- and community-centred approaches premised on indigenous values of togetherness, reciprocity, solidarity, responsibility, and love for humanity. The thesis concludes by proposing the need for Ubuntu-guided social work interventions, a culturally competent practice, modification of the community development approach, and emancipatory and empowerment practice.