The Influence of Police Training Programmes on Police Officers Participation in Gender Based Violence Prevention in Uganda

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the influence of police training programmes on police officers participation in gender based violence prevention in Uganda. The investigation was provoked by the reportedly deteriorating performance of police officers in areas of gender based violence  prevention despite of government’s effort to transform Uganda to a middle income country by 2040.The specific areas studied were  the  influence of police training on their participation in enforcement of  laws related to gender based violence prevention, creating awareness on gender based violence prevention to the community  and police officers efforts to prevent gender based violence. The study took an interpretive philosophical paradigm and was under pined by the Social learning theory and the Expectancy theory of Motivation. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, Focused Group Discussions, participant observation and documentary analysis. A total of 412 police officers and 80 non police officers participated in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS by use of descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, Regression analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis by use of transcription, coding and themes development. The study findings showed a strong positive relationship between training programmes and participation in gender based violence prevention, (r = 0.530, p = 0.000, n = 412). It further showed that police training programmes are predictors of police officers participation in gender based violence prevention, pv < 0.050 (= 0.000). The relationship is statistically significant at 95 % confidence level. The researcher concluded that police training programmes influence police officers participation in gender based violence prevention in Uganda. Thus it was recommended that police management promote community awareness on gender based violence prevention by allocating enough funds to standardize training and other activities related to gender based violence prevention   in Uganda.

Keywords: Police Training Programmes Gender Based Violence Prevention.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-20-05

Publication date:October 31^st 2019