Francis Kato
Research Area
Education
Ph.D., University of British Columbia (in progress)
MSW., Gothenburg University, Sweden
BSW., Makerere University, Uganda
About
Kato is a Ph.D. student, passionate about enhancing the well-being of children and vulnerable populations. He has interests in child protection, migration health, and child and adolescent mental health. He has made significant contributions to child well-being research in Uganda as a research coordinator at Makerere University. In this role, he has managed teams, planned logistics, and stakeholder engagement, working collaboratively with government, civil society, private sectors, and the community to promote the well-being of children in vulnerable circumstances, particularly those in out-of-home care settings.
Research
Kato’s research explores the internal and external factors that shape the mental well-being of children in Ugandan residential care. Employing relational and social-ecological theories, he explores the dynamics in interactions between children and caregivers, the broader ecological context shaping these dynamics, and their influence on children’s mental health. This research contributes to the global conversation on supporting the mental health of children in out-of-home care, particularly in residential facilities.
Publications
Manian, N., Walakira, E.J., Megazzini, K., Oliver, D., Bangirana, P. & Kato, F. (2023). ‘Child-focused evaluation: Involving children as their own respondents’, African Evaluation Journal 11(1), a688 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/aej.v11i1.688
Frimpong-Manso, K., Bukuluki, P., Addy, T. N. A., Obeng, J. K., Kato, F. (2022). Pregnancy and parenting experiences of care-experienced youth in Ghana and Uganda. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 39(6), 683-692. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00829-5
Walakira, E. J., Nnyombi, A., Ssenfuuma, J. T., Kyamulabi, A., Kato, F., Natukunda, H. P., Lange, L., & Oliver, D. (2022). A qualitative insight into children’s and caregivers’ experience following re-integration from Uganda’s residential care facilities into family-based care. Global Studies of Childhood, 0(0). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20436106221087297
Kaawa-Mafigiri, D., Kato, F., Kyamulabi, A., Giles-Vernick, T., Kutalek, R., Napier, D., & Walakira, E. J. (2022). Communicative Health Promotion for Refugee Children in Uganda. In Global Health Communication for Immigrants and Refugees (pp. 191-207). Routledge. Accessible online click here.
Bukuluki, P., Mwenyango, H., Kato, F., Kyamulabi, A., & Bagabo, A. (2021). Chapter 4 – the psychosocial effect of COVID-19 on urban refugees: Narratives from Congolese refugees living in Kampala. Mental health effects of COVID-19 (pp. 69-87). Elsevier Inc. This chapter is available online click here.
Bukuluki, P., Frimpong-Manso, K., & Kato, F. (2021). Chapter 2 – Care leavers’ experiences of COVID-19 in Uganda and Ghana: Implications for their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Mental health effects of COVID-19 (pp. 19-36). Elsevier Inc. Available online click here.
Mafigiri, D., Kato, F., & Schmidt-Sane, M. (2021) Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa: Key Considerations for Epidemic Response and Preparedness in Uganda. The policy brief is available online, click here.