“Nigiina”s as Coping Mechanisms of Peri-urban Low-income Mothers in Kampala, Uganda

Low-income mothers face a number of challenges that evolve around poverty, isolation, powerlessness, and vulnerability. The main objective of this study was to examine the contributions of nigiina associations, which are informal gift giving associations, to the welfare of women and their households in an urban neighbourhood. Data was collected through use of unstructured interviews, in-depth interviews, survey questionnaires and observation guides. Findings reveal that nigiina associations, which operate in a rotational basis and give equal opportunities to every member of receiving a gift, such as in the form of household items, cash, advice, training, wide friendship networks and loan opportunities, are used as coping mechanisms by low-income mothers living in the surrounds of Kampala city.