Candiya Bongomin Okello, GeorgeMunene, John C.Mpeera Ntayi, JosephMalinga Akol, Charles2022-05-252022-05-252018George Candiya Bongomin Okello, John C Munene, Joseph Mpeera Ntayi, Charles Malinga Akol, "Analyzing the relationship between institutional frameworks and financial inclusion in rural Uganda: A social network perspective", International Journal of Emerging Markets, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJoEM-02-2017-0057https://doi.org/10.1108/IJoEM-02-2017-0057https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/3346The purpose of this paper is to report the findings on the mediating effect of social network in the relationship between institutional frameworks and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Design/Methodology/Approach – The study adopts a cross-sectional research design to collect data used to test for mediation under this study. Structural equation model (SEM) through use of Bootstrap in AMOS (analysis of moment structures) was adopted to establish existence and type of mediation by social network in the relationship between institutional frameworks and financial inclusion. Results – Social network had a partial mediating effect through institutional frameworks on financial inclusion. In addition, institutional frameworks through its regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive pillars also have a significant direct effect on financial inclusion. Besides, social networks had a significant effect on financial inclusion. This suggests that there exist both a direct effect of institutional frameworks on financial inclusion and an indirect effect of institutional frameworks through social network on financial inclusion. Research limitations/shortcomings – While the sample for this study was big enough, it limited itself to only poor households in rural Uganda. Besides, the current study adopted cross-sectional design, thus, leaving out longitudinal design to investigate the characteristics in our sample over time. Originality/Value – The study recommends that social network, which acts as a conduit through which useful information flow and can be shared, play a critical role in mediating in the relationship between institutional frameworks and financial inclusion in rural Uganda. Therefore, our study contributes to existing body of literature by highlighting the mediating influence of social network in the relationship between institutional frameworks and financial inclusion, especially in rural Uganda. Contribution – The study makes significant empirical contribution and implications to financial inclusion policy makers on evidence of the critical role played by social network in indirectly enhancing the relationship between institutional frameworks and financial inclusion of the poor who are vulnerable to exclusion by main stream financial services providers.enFinancial inclusionInstitutional pillarsNetwork tiesThe poorConfirmatory factor analysisStructural equation modelArticle