Browsing by Author "Okello Candiya Bongomin, George"

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    Analyzing the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion by microfinance banks in developing countries: social network theoretical approach
    (International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 2020) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Akol Malinga, Charles
    The main purpose of this study is to establish the mediating effect of social network in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a cross-sectional research design and data were collected from the poor who resides in rural Uganda. Structural equation modelling (SEM) through analysis of moment structures (AMOS) was used to analyze the data. Bootstrap approach with 5,000 samples was run to establish the mediating effect of social network in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries. Findings – The results showed that social network significantly and positively mediate the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries. In addition, financial literacy also has a direct significant and positive effect on financial inclusion. Overall, the findings suggest that the presence of social network fully mediate the effect of financial literacy on financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries. Research limitations/implications – This study adopted a cross-sectional research design and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Future studies could adopt longitudinal research design to establish the dynamic characteristics of the samples under study over time. Besides, this study collected data from only poor households who were clients of microfinance banks located in rural Uganda. It ignored the other section of the population who were not the poor. Therefore, future studies could use the other section of the population who are clients of commercial banks. Practical implications – The advocates of financial literacy and managers of microfinance banks in developing countries should ensure using existing local structures such as community and village associations to conduct financial literacy training. The village associations help in mobilizing members who are close-knit based on the existing societal ties that can be used as a channel for disseminating vital financial literacy information. Indeed, financial literacy workshops, seminars, and business clinics can be easily conducted to individuals who are members of the village associations. Originality/value – This paper integrates social network theory in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries. Social network acts as a conduit through which financial knowledge and skills flow to increase the scope of financial inclusion of the poor in developing countries.
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    Collective action among rural poor: Does it enhance financial intermediation by banks for financial inclusion in developing economies?
    (International Journal of Bank Marketing, 2018) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Munene, John C.; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Akol Malinga, Charles
    The purpose of this paper is to establish the mediating role of collective action in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses structural equation modeling (SEM) through bootstrap approach constructed using analysis of moment structures to test for the mediating role of collective action in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Besides, the paper adopts Baron and Kenny’s (1986) approach to establish whether conditions for mediation by collective action exist. Findings – The results revealed that collective action significantly mediates the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. The findings further indicated that the mediated model had better model fit indices than the non-mediated model under SEM bootstrap. Furthermore, the results showed that both collective action and financial intermediation have significant and direct impacts on financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Therefore, the findings suggest that the presence of collective action boost financial intermediation for improved financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Research limitations/implications – The study used quantitative data collected through cross-sectional research design. Further studies through the use of interviews could be adopted in future. Methodologically, the study adopted use of SEM bootstrap approach to establish the mediating effect of collective action. However, it ignored the Sobel’s test and MedGraph methods. Future studies could adopt the use of alternative methods of Sobel’s test and MedGraph. Additionally, the study focused only on semi-formal financial institutions. Hence, further studies may consider the use of data collected from formal and informal institutions. Practical implications – Policy makers and managers of financial institutions should consider the role of collective action in promoting economic development, especially in developing countries. They should create structures and design financial services and products that promote collective action among the poor in rural Uganda. Originality/value – Although several scholars have articulated financial inclusion based on both the supply and demand side factors, this is the first study to test the mediating role of collective action in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda using SEM bootstrap approach. Theoretically, the study combines the role of collective action with financial intermediation to promote financial inclusion. Financial intermediation theory ignores the role played by collective action in the intermediation process between the surplus and deficit units.
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    Exploring the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion in rural Uganda
    (International Journal of Social Economics, 2018) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Munene, John C.; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Akol Malinga, Charles
    The purpose of this paper is to establish the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – The current study used cross-sectional research design and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. The study applied structural equation modeling through bootstrap approach in AMOS to establish the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion. Findings – The results indicated that social capital significantly mediates the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Therefore, it can be deduced that social capital among the poor play an important role in promoting financial intermediation for improved financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Research limitations/implications – Although the sample was large, it may not be generalized to other segments of the population. Data were collected from only poor households located in rural Uganda. Besides, the study was cross-sectional, thus, limiting efforts in investigating certain characteristics of the sample over time. Perhaps future studies could adopt the use of longitudinal research design. Practical implications – Financial institutions such as banks should rely on social capital as a substitute for physical collateral in order to promote financial inclusion, especially among the poor in rural Uganda. Originality/value – This study provides empirical evidence on phenomenon not studied in rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa where the poor use social capital embedded in customs and norms for doing business. The results highlight the importance of social capital in mediating the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda.
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    Financial Inclusion in Rural Uganda: Testing Interaction Effect of Financial Literacy and Networks
    (Journal of African Business, 2016) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Munene, John C.; Nkote Nabeta, Isaac
    Based on the premise that financial literacy take place in networks to influence the level of financial inclusion, the study examined whether networks moderate in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion among poor households in rural Uganda. Studies have revealed that financial literacy affects the level of financial inclusion. However, these studies have failed to incorporate the moderating role of networks in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion. The results showed that networks positively and significantly moderates in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion with both financial literacy and networks having direct and significant effects.
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    Financial inclusion in rural Uganda: The role of social capital and generational values
    (Cogent Business & Management, 2017) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Munene, John C.; Ntayi Mpeera, Joseph; Malinga Akol, Charles
    The purpose of this paper was to examine how variations in social capital across generations promote financial inclusion among the poor in rural Uganda. Data were collected from a sample of 200 poor households located in Mukono district and processed using ordinary least square regression and ANOVA to examine how variations in social capital across generations promote financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. The results generated indicate that variations in social capital components across generations significantly and positively affect financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. The paper makes a significant contribution to existing body of literature by showing that variations in social capital across generations can cause an effect in financial inclusion of the poor, especially in rural Uganda. Managers of financial institutions should consider generational values in promoting financial inclusion. Specifically, they should design social financial products and services that can boost collective action in order to promote financial inclusion of the poor, especially in rural Uganda.
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    Financial inclusion in rural Uganda: The role of social capital and generational values
    (Cogent Business & Management, 2017) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Munene, John C.; Ntayi Mpeera, Joseph; Malinga Akol, Charles
    The purpose of this paper was to examine how variations in social capital across generations promote financial inclusion among the poor in rural Uganda. Data were collected from a sample of 200 poor households located in Mukono district and processed using ordinary least square regression and ANOVA to examine how variations in social capital across generations promote financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. The results generated indicate that variations in social capital components across generations significantly and positively affect financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. The paper makes a significant contribution to existing body of literature by showing that variations in social capital across generations can cause an effect in financial inclusion of the poor, especially in rural Uganda. Managers of financial institutions should consider generational values in promoting financial inclusion. Specifically, they should design social financial products and services that can boost collective action in order to promote financial inclusion of the poor, especially in rural Uganda.
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    Financial intermediation and financial inclusion of poor households: Mediating role of social networks in rural Uganda
    (Cogent Economics & Finance, 2017) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Munene, John C.; Malinga Akol, Charles
    The paper examined the mediating role of social networks in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of poor households in rural Uganda. The paper used SPSS (statistical package for social scientist) and applied MedGraph program (Excel version 13), Sobel test, and Kenny & Baron guideline to test for the mediating role of social networks in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion. Quantitative data were collected from a total sample of 400 poor households living in rural Uganda who were randomly selected for this study. The findings revealed that social networks partially mediate in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of poor households in rural Uganda. Besides, social networks and financial intermediation have significant and positive impacts on financial inclusion of poor households in rural Uganda. This implies that some effects of financial intermediation on financial inclusion go through social networks to cause an impact on financial inclusion of poor households in rural Uganda. Therefore, financial institutions such as banks and microfinance institutions should develop financial products and services that promote social networking among poor households in rural Uganda. In addition, they should advocate for participation by poor households in existing village associations and social organizations so as to develop wide social networks. This will help them to gain access to scarce and vital information about available financial services like credit.
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    Financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor: Testing the moderating role of institutional pillars in rural Uganda
    (International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 2018) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Munene, John C.; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Akol Malinga, Charles
    Drawing from the fact that institutions act as incentives and disincentives to human behaviour in financial markets, the purpose of this study is to examine the moderating role of institutional pillars in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – The study used cross-sectional research design and data were collected from the poor residing in rural Uganda. Statistical package for social sciences was used to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics, correlations and regression analyses were generated. Besides, ModGraph excel programme was adopted to graphically explain the moderating role of institutional pillars in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Findings – The results revealed that institutional pillars of regulative (formal rules), normative (informal norms) and cultural cognitive (cognition) significantly moderate the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor. Furthermore, the results also indicated that financial intermediation and institutional pillars have significant effects on financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Research limitations/implications – The study focuses on only cross-sectional design, thus, leaving out longitudinal study. Future research using longitudinal data that explore behaviours of the poor over time could be useful. In addition, only quantitative data were used to measure variables under study and use of qualitative data were ignored. Thus, further studies using qualitative data are feasible. Practical implications – Policymakers and advocates of financial inclusion in a developing country such as Uganda should adopt institutional pillars (regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive) in promoting financial intermediation in rural areas. The institutional pillars working in combination set the “rule of the game” or “humanly devise constraints” that guide economic exchange by promoting and limiting certain actions of actors in underdeveloped financial market as stipulated by North (1990) and Scott (1995). Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine the moderating role of institutional pillars under the theory of institutions in the relationship between financial intermediation and financial inclusion of the poor in a developing country setting. Indeed, institutions guide contract enforceability and information sharing in human interaction to lower transaction cost in the financial markets. This is missing in literature and theory of financial intermediation in promoting financial inclusion, especially in rural Uganda.
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    Institutional frames for financial inclusion of poor households in Sub-Saharan Africa Evidence from rural Uganda
    (International Journal of Social Economics, 2016) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Munene, John
    The purpose of this paper is to examine institutional frames for financial inclusion of poor households in a Sub-Saharan Africa context and provide policy implications in solving the persistent problem of limited inclusion of poor households into mainstream formal financial services in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – Cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 200 poor households located in Mukono District. Statistical program for Social Scientists and Analysis of Moment Structures were used to generate results. Findings – Results have revealed the presence of regulative, normative, and procedural and declarative cognitive institutional frames, which affect financial inclusion of poor households in rural rural Uganda. The findings and policy implications are discussed in detail in the paper. Originality/value – This study parallels the World Bank Global Findex survey (2012) on general aspects of financial inclusion around the world. It examines frames, which structure behaviours and actions of poor households towards their financial decisions and choices in attempting to improve financial inclusion with a major focus on rural Uganda.
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    Institutional framing and financial inclusion Testing the mediating effect of financial literacy using SEM bootstrap approach
    (International Journal of Social Economics, 2017) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Munene, John C.
    The purpose of this paper is to establish the mediating effect of financial literacy in the relationship between institutional framing and financial inclusion among poor households in Uganda with a specific focus on Mokono district. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a cross-sectional design. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM), which adopted Analysis of Moment Structures to test for mediating effect of financial literacy in the relationship between institutional framing and financial inclusion. Findings – The results revealed that financial literacy had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between institutional framing and financial inclusion. Furthermore, the results indicated that while institutional framing has a direct effect on financial inclusion, it also exerts an indirect effect through financial literacy. This supports the argument that institutional framing that structure the way how poor households interpret, evaluate, comprehend and make sound financial decisions and choices, is enhanced by knowledge and skills acquired through financial literacy by poor households. Research limitations/implications – This study has been limited by adopting only cross-sectional design and quantitative research approach, therefore ignoring longitudinal design and qualitative research approach. Besides, the study uses SEM bootstrap approach and ignores MedGraph method, which is also recommended for testing mediation. Practical implications – Since the results suggest that institutional framing of poor households are partially enhanced by financial literacy to increase financial inclusion, policy makers, practitioners and managers of financial institutions should ensure extending financial literacy programs closer to the poor in order to expand the scope of financial inclusion beyond the current sphere. Indeed, financial literacy programs will boost cognitive abilities of poor households resulting into better financial decisions and choices and, hence increase in demand and consumption of financial services. Originality/value – The study significantly generates empirical evidence by testing the mediating role of financial literacy in the relationship between institutional framing and financial inclusion using SEM bootstrap approach. The study portrays the influential partial effect of financial literacy in enhancing institutional frames of poor households in order to cause improvement in financial inclusion. Indeed, financial literacy programs that entail acquisition of financial knowledge and skills boost cognitive abilities of poor households to easily interpret, evaluate, comprehend meanings, and take correct decisions and actions on financial matters. The mediating effect of financial literacy in the relationship between institutional framing and financial inclusion seems to be lacking in literature and theory. Thus, the paper is the first to relate the influential partial effect of financial literacy in the relationship between institutional framing and financial inclusion among poor households, especially in a developing country context.
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    Institutions and Financial Inclusion in Rural Uganda: the Mediating Role of Social Capital
    (Journal of African Business, 2018) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Munene, John C.; Akol Malinga, Charles
    The study examined the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between institutions and financial inclusion of poor households in rural Uganda. Cross-sectional design was adopted and data were collected and analyzed using SPSS/20, MedGraph and Sobel-z test. The findings indicated that social capital partially mediates the relationship between institutions and financial inclusion. Besides, institutions and financial inclusion are significantly related. Thus, managers of financial institutions, financial inclusion working groups, and policy makers should pay more attention to the role of social capital in promoting cooperative behavior among the poor in accessing scarce resources such as financial services.
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    Mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion: mediating effect of digital consumer protection
    (Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, 2020) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph
    Drawing from the argument that mobile money services have a significant potential to provide a wide range of affordable, convenient and secure financial services, there have been rampant frauds on consumers of financial products over the digital financial platform. Thus, this study aims to establish the mediating effect of digital consumer protection in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion with data collected from micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in northern Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – To achieve the main objective of this study, a research model was developed to test for the mediating effect of digital consumer protection in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion. The data were collected from MSMEs and structural equation modelling in partial least square (PLS) combined with bootstrap was applied to analyze and test the hypotheses of this study. The direct and indirect effect of mobile money adoption and usage on financial inclusion was tested through digital consumer protection as amediator variable. Findings – The findings from the PLS-structural equation modelling (SEM) showed that mobile money adoption and usage has both direct and indirect effect on financial inclusion. Moreover, financial inclusion is influenced by both mobile money adoption and usage and digital consumer protection. Research limitations/implications – The study used partial least square (PLS-SEM) combined with bootstrap confidence intervals through a formative approach to establish the mediating effect of the mediator variable. Hence, it ignored the use of covariance-based SEM and the MedGraph programme. Furthermore, data were collected fromsamples located in Gulu district, northern Uganda and specifically from MSMEs. This limits generalization of the study findings to other population who also use mobile money services. Practical implications – Promoters of digital financial services, managers of telecommunication companies, and financial inclusion advocates should consider strengthening the existing digital consumer protection laws on the mobile money platform. A collaborative approach between the mobile network operators, financial institutions and regulators should tighten the existing laws against mobile money fraudsters and an efficient mechanism for recourse, compensation and remedy should be set up to benefit the victims of frauds and cybercrime on the Fintech ecosystem. Originality/value – The current study gives a useful insight into the critical mediating role of digital consumer protection as a cushion for promoting financial inclusion through mobile phones over the Fintech that face great threat and risk fromcyber insecurity.
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    Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion in Sub- Saharan Africa: the Moderating Role of Social Networks
    (Journal of African Business, 2018) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Munene, John C.; Akol Malinga, Charles
    The purpose of this article is to test the moderating effect of social networks in the relationship between mobile money usage and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. The results revealed that there is a significant and positive moderating effect of social networks in the relationship between mobile money usage and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Besides, mobile money usage and social networks have direct and significant effects on financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Thus, the findings suggest that existence of social networks of strong and weak ties among mobile money users promote financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Previous studies have concentrated only on investigating the impact of mobile money in promoting financial inclusion in developing economies, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, this particular study introduces the moderating effect of social networks in the relationship between mobile money usage and financial inclusion in rural Uganda, which seems to be sparse and lacking in literature.
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    Nexus between financial literacy and financial inclusion: Examining the moderating role of cognition from a developing country perspective
    (International Journal of Bank Marketing, 2018) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Munene, John C.; Mpeera Ntayi, Joseph; Akol Malinga, Charles
    Premised on the argument that cognition structures the way how individuals think and make decisions, the purpose of this paper is to test the interaction effect of cognition in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – The study used cross-sectional research design and quantitative data were collected and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Baron and Kenny guidelines were adopted to test for existence of moderating effect of cognition in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Furthermore, ModGraph excel software was used to establish the magnitude of moderating effect of cognition in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Findings – The results revealed that cognition significantly moderate the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. In addition, both cognition and financial literacy also have direct effects on financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Research limitations/implications – The study adopted cross-sectional research design and data were collected by use of only questionnaires. Future studies through longitudinal research design may be employed. Besides, further studies using interviews may be adopted. Furthermore, this study collected data from only tier 3 financial institutions, thus, ignoring the other financial institutions. Future studies could focus on financial institutions under the other tiers. Practical implications – The findings from the study enlightens policy-makers, managers of financial institutions, and financial inclusion advocates on the importance of cognition in enhancing financial literacy among the poor, especially in rural Uganda. Cognition combined with financial literacy helps the poor to make wise financial decisions and choices toward consuming financial services and products provided by formal financial institutions. This leads to increased scope of financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Therefore, advocates of financial literacy should assess community cultural cognition and utilize them to design and fashion effective financial literacy interventions that can promote financial inclusion. Originality/value – The study uses Baron and Kenny and ModGraph excel software to test for the interaction effect of cognition in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. While several studies exist worldwide on financial inclusion, this study is the first to test the interaction effect of cognition in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor in rural areas in a developing country context.
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    Social network: Testing the predictive power of its dimensions in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda
    (African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2018) Okello Candiya Bongomin, George; Munene, John C.
    The purpose of this paper is to test for the predictive power of each of the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a cross-sectional research design and data were collected from a total of 400 poor households located in Northern, Eastern, Central and Western Uganda. The authors adopted ordinary least square hierarchical regression analysis to test for the predictive power of each of the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. The effects were determined by calculating the significant change in coefficient of determination (R2) between the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion. In addition, analysis of variance was also used to test for variation in perceptions of the poor about being financially included. Findings – The findings revealed that the dimensions of ties and interaction significantly explain financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Contrary to previous studies, the results indicated that interdependence as a dimension of social network is not a significant predictor of financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Combined together, the dimensions of social network explains about 16.6 percent of the variation in financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Research limitations/implications – The study was purely cross-sectional, thus, ignoring longitudinal survey design, which could have investigated certain characteristics of the variable over time. Additionally, although a total sample amounting to 400 poor households was used in the study, the results cannot be generalized since other equally marginalized groups such as the disabled persons, refugees, and immigrants were not included in this study. Furthermore, the study used only the questionnaire to elicit responses from the respondents. The use of interview was ignored during data collection. Practical implications – Policy makers, managers of financial institutions, and financial inclusion advocates should consider social network dimensions of ties and interaction as conduits for information flow and sharing among the poor including the women and youth about scarce financial resources like loans. Advocacy towards creation of societal network that brings the poor together in strong and weak ties is very important in scaling up access to and use of scarce financial services for improving economic and social well-being. Originality/value – Contrary to previous studies, this particular study test the predictive power of each of the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Thus, it methodologically isolates the individual contribution of each of the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion of the poor. The authors found that only ties and interaction are significant predictors of financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Therefore, the findings suggest that not all dimensions of social network are significant predictors of financial inclusion as opposed to previous empirical findings.