Perceptions of Poverty among the Marginalised: A Case of Members of Community Based Groups in Kaabong and Kotido Districts, Uganda

The study was carried out to explore perceptions of poverty among members of Community Based Groups (CBGs) in Kaabong and Kotido districts in Uganda. Random sampling was used to select four CBGs and the study participants were selected using opportunistic sampling. The study adopted a qualitative approach and employed face to face interviews for data collection. Data was analysed using narrative analysis. The study established that while outsiders perceive the people of Karamoja to be victims of chronic poverty, the study participants did not perceive themselves to be poor and their definitions of who is poor greatly differed from popular definitions. The study, therefore, recommends that community development strategies should endeavour to understand the perceptions of the people affected by a particular problem to be addressed. Understanding these perceptions is critical in designing interventions and policies to address the problem. Effective policy instruments designed to address poverty, for instance, should include the broad social and political dimensions, as well as the aspirations of people living in poverty; and these depend on the poor people’s perceptions of poverty. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p1763