Microcredit and performance of women owned small scale enterprises in Uganda; a case study of SMEs Bukwo town council, Bukwo district

Abstract

The study examined the effect of microcredit on performance of women owned small enterprises in Bukwo Town Council, Bukwo District. The specific study objectives were: to establish the effect of interest rates on performance of women owned small enterprises in Bukwo Town Council; to examine the effect of collateral security on performance of women owned small enterprises in Bukwo Town Council; and to examine the effect of loan repayment period on performance of women owned small enterprises in Bukwo Town Council. The study employed a descriptive survey research design, where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. From a population size of 200, the study attracted a sample size of 127 participants, from whom data was collected using both questionnaires and interview guide. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis technique and SPSS software for quantitative data. The latter gave rise to descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) as well as inferential statistics (correlations and regression analysis). The correlation findings revealed that interest rates was strongly and positively related with women owned small enterprises (r = 0.989; p < 0.05); collateral security exhibited a strong and positive relationship with women owned small enterprises (r = 0.993; p < 0.05) whereas loan repayment period exhibited a strong and positive with women owned small enterprises (r = 0.994; p < 0.05). Regression analysis results also revealed that all credit terms (interest rates, collateral security, and loan repayment period) have a positive and significant effect on women owned small enterprises with net effects (β = 0.197); β = 0.509; and β = 0.689) respectively. Further still, results from the regression model summary revealed credit terms predicted 99.5% of the variations in women owned small enterprises in Bukwo Town Council. The researcher recommends that microfinance institutions should lower the interest rate to a level that cover their operating expenses and at the same time facilitate business women to improve financial performance of small and medium enterprises. Microfinance institutions should increase the duration of repaying loans, or spread the repayment over a longer period of time for small and medium enterprises. This will enable businesswomen to have greater use of the loan over a longer period for the acquisition of capital assets. Efforts should be made by all small and medium enterprises to acquire those assets that promote their efficiency and effectiveness thereby improving performance of women owned small scale enterprises.