Attributions for and the Perceived Effects of Poverty in East Africa: A Study from Uganda

The study had the following objectives: To elicit poverty causal attributions among Ugandan university students; assess beliefs about the role of organizations in the causation of poverty, the role of organizations in poverty reduction, the effects of poverty, ways of reducing poverty, and assess how organizational psychologists can help to reduce poverty. A convenient sample of 236 Ugandan university students were opportunistically selected, and completed a questionnaire that assessed background characteristics, attributions for poverty, effects for poverty and its reduction, and role of organizations in the causation and reduction of poverty. Data was analysed using percentages. Causes of poverty were categorized as individualistic, fatalistic, structuralist, third world governments, international exploitation and conflict. Poverty was reported to have serious effects on people’s social lives, on the families and on mental health. Ways of reducing poverty by government, development partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and organizational psychologists, and above all ways of dealing with poverty attributions, were reported.