Factors affecting microfinance savings mobilization: the case of Pride Microfinance Uganda Ltd, Mukono branch

Abstract

Saving mobilization can help to gain financial independence, increase profitability and help Microfinance institutions to reach financial self-sufficiency. The study seeks to identify the factors affecting microfinance saving mobilization at Pride microfinance institution, Mukono branch. Descriptive study was used; primary data was collected from 38 respondents by using questionnaires and interview method. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 16 and presented in the form of percentages and descriptive. Pride microfinance institution mobilizes its funds from profit of its operation and deposit of the customers. The institution collects deposit in three forms, i.e. mandatory saving, voluntary saving and term deposit. Among these form of deposits the largest proportion of deposit is on the form of mandatory saving. Pride is using different mechanisms to mobilize saving among these door to door deposit collection through saving collectors, awareness creation to the borrower and non-borrower clients through different promotional efforts, awareness creation for the society about the banking importance. The institution is ready to use core banking system to connect all Pride branches and give quality service for the depositors to save to their account and to withdraw from their account from any branches of the microfinance or the institution. The large percentages of respondents sex are Female, the large percentage of age of respondents are between age of 25 and 30, large percentage of respondents educational level are Degree holders, respondents monthly income fall largely between 1000,000 -1500,000. Before becoming customer of Pride microfinance, 47.7 percent of respondents save their income at different commercial banks, 21.1 percent of them save in credit institutions and the rest 31.6 percent save their money in Sacco’s. The large percentage of respondents had got financial education by the institution and the result of education had increased their savings. The respondents opinion on impact of interest rate on saving presents that the large proportion of respondents increase their saving with increase of saving interest rate. The opinion of respondents on service of Pride MFI presents that, greater than half of the respondents are not happy with the service of Pride MFI .The two main purpose of saving of respondents were identified as "Buying land and Building house" and save for the purpose “For children’s education".