Determinants of financial inclusion among individuals in Kampala: case study of Wandegeya business center
Abstract
This study assesses the determinants of financial inclusion among people dealing in general trade in Wandegeya, Kampala. A cross-sectional research design was used where a sample of 133 individuals operating general trade businesses in area were interviewed. Data analysis was done in STATA at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels.
Results showed that majority of the respondents were female (56%), aged 20 to 39 years (50%) and dealing in retail business (63%). A slightly higher proportion were married (42%), had attain secondary education (38%) and earned 500,000 to 1,000,000 Ugandan shillings monthly. With regard to financial inclusion, over half (51%) of the respondents were not financially included, in that they did not own a bank account. only 47% and 42% of the respondents were saving and had borrowed money from financial institutions respectively. About 41% of the respondents had visited the banks in the last 3 months and mainly to pay school fees. Chi-square results at bivariate analysis revealed that age, marital status, education level and monthly income of the respondents were significantly associated with financial inclusion status. At further analysis, binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age, education level and level of income significantly determined financial inclusion status of individuals dealing in general trade in Wandegeya business Centre. Where respondents were aged 18 to 19 years, those that had attained secondary and tertiary education, and those that were earning over one million Uganda shillings were more likely to be financially included as compared to others.
The study recommends the government and other stakeholders especially financial institutions to sensitize and extend financial services especially among the young people, less educated and low-income earners in order to encourage them access and use financial services that would in turn improve on their financial inclusion