The Causes of Alcoholism in Kabale, Rubanda and Rukiga Districts of Western Uganda

John Bosco Turyasingura – Department of Management Science

Moses Agaba – Department of Management Science

Jesse David Kabagambe – Department of Business Studies

Jasper Atukwase – Department of Procurement and Logistics
Faculty of Economics and management Sciences

Turikanawe Francis – Department of Management Science

Kabale University

Email: jboturyasingura@kab.ac.ug/ magaba@kab.ac.ug/ jkabagambe@kab.ac.ug/ jatukwase@kab.ac.ug

Abstract: The study aimed to investigate the causes of alcohol consumption in Kabale, Rubanda, and Rukiga Districts. The study used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques to provide a thorough understanding of the causes of alcohol consumption in Kabale, Rubanda, and Rukiga Districts. Data from 618 respondents was collected and analysed quantitatively, supplemented with qualitative analysis. Since descriptive analysis required the description of a single variable and its attributes, frequency tables were used to present the data. The study found that there are numerous causes of alcohol consumption in Kabale Rubanda and Rukiga Districts. The study found that alcohol consumption in Kabale, Rubanda, and Rukiga Districts is influenced by cultural, social, economic, and psychological factors, with respondents reporting overwhelmingly negative effects on health, poverty, education, work, incarceration, marriage, and social respect. The study recommended that stakeholders address the root causes of alcohol consumption in Kabale, Rubanda, and Rukiga Districts by addressing harmful cultural practices through awareness campaigns, reducing social peer pressures through community dialogues, mitigating economic triggers by promoting income-generating opportunities, and dealing with psychological drivers through counselling, mental health support, and rehabilitation programs.