Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between financial self-efficacy (FSE) and financial inclusion (FI) among individual financial consumers in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative approach and cross-sectional research design, a sample of 400 individuals from urban Central and rural Northern Uganda was drawn. SPSS and AMOS™ 21, regression analysis and structural equation models were used to establish the hypothesized relationship between FSE and FI. Findings The results suggest a strong positive and significant relationship between FSE and FI. The results further suggest that other variables which were controlled for, such as age and gender, had significant influence on an individual’s usage of formal financial services. Research limitations/implications The study was assessed using both potential and actual consumers of financial services collectively. However, if separately assessed, possibly there would be a variation in behavioral responses toward FI. Practical implications Formal financial service providers need to enhance individuals’ levels of confidence in management of finances and utilization of formal financial products and services, so that the financial consumers can realize the changes in financial behavior and consequently FI. Social implications The enhancement of individuals’ level of confidence in evaluating the available financial service options will guide them to take financial decisions that will improve their livelihood. Originality/value The results contribute toward the limited empirical and theoretical evidence for FSE and FI from a behavioral demand-side perspective.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of financial self-efficacy (FSE) on the relationship between financial attitude, financial literacy and financial inclusion (FI) among individuals in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative approach and cross-sectional research design, a sample of 400 individuals from urban Central and rural Northern Uganda was drawn. Using SPSS and AMOS™ 21, structural equation models and bootstrapping methods were used to establish the hypothesized relationships and mediation effects between financial attitude, financial literacy and FI. Findings The results suggested FSE as a mediator of the relationship between financial attitude, financial literacy and FI. Further, there was a significant and insignificant relationship between financial literacy, financial attitude and FI, respectively. Research limitations/implications The study was assessed using both potential and actual consumers of financial services collectively. However if separately assessed, possibly there would be a variation in perceptions or behavioural responses towards FI. Practical implications There is a need to develop and sustain high levels of financial confidence among individuals to enable them use formal financial services. Social implications Possession of financial knowledge, skills, an evaluative judgement with high levels of financial confidence enable individuals make financial decisions that improve their integration into the formal financial system and improved welfare. Originality/value The results contribute towards the limited empirical and theoretical evidence regarding the mediating role of FSE in explaining the financial behaviour.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between attitude and the intention to adopt Islamic banking in a Christian-dominated country and whether such a relationship is moderated and boosted by pricing of conventional bank products and social influence. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a cross-sectional and correlational design as data were collected between July and September 2019. Data were collected using a questionnaire from a sample of 384 adult individuals with bank accounts in conventional commercial banks from which 300 responded, indicating a response rate of 78%. Findings The findings of this study indicate that attitude is significantly associated with the intention to adopt Islamic banking. This relationship is moderated and boosted by the pricing of conventional bank products and social influence. The interaction of pricing of conventional bank products with attitude is positive and significantly influence the intention to adopt Islamic banking. The interaction of attitude and social influence is significant but negatively related with the intention to adopt Islamic banking. Research limitations/implications This study uses quantitative data which sometimes misses certain information and limits the respondent’s opinions on the study variables. A mixed method research needs to be conducted on pricing of conventional bank products, social influence, attitude and adoption of Islamic banking to gather the respondent’s opinions on the variables. Practical implications IB being an alternative source of financing of business in most parts of the world, existing bank customers, international funding agencies and religious leaders could mount pressure on government to speed up the licensing of institutions interested in offering Islamic banking services. Social implications Uganda being a secular state and having finalized Islamic banking laws in early 2018, it is surprising that there is no bank that has so far started offering Islamic banking products. Originality/value This study provides an initial empirical evidence from a Christian-dominated country on the moderating effect of pricing of conventional bank products and social influence in the relationship between attitude and intention to adopt Islamic banking.

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to explore the role social entrepreneurship has played in post conflict recovery in Gulu district in northern Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory and qualitative research design was used to examine the role of social entrepreneurship in post conflict recovery in the Gulu community located in Uganda. A sample of five social entrepreneurs and 15 beneficiaries were interviewed. Findings – The findings revealed that there is an association between active social entrepreneurship and post conflict recovery. Social entrepreneurship was found to create opportunity recognition, networking and innovation at both an individual and societal level. Research limitations/implications – The generalization of the findings was limited by sample and method. A cross-sectional design that was used does not allow for a long-term impact study and limited empirical published research done. Originality/value – This in-depth richness provides a clearer appreciation of the role social entrepreneurs’ play in post conflict recovery.

The study examined the characteristics of business owners that enable them create sustainable businesses in emerging economy contexts where the dearth of SME’s is the norm. The study used a cross sectional design and qualitative approach to collect data from reputable businesses that had survived for more than 10 years. Data was analysed using a content analysis approach with NVivo software. Owner managers of sustainable businesses exhibited strong antecedents of resilience, social capital, resourcefulness, personal values and strategic flexibility. Successful business owners are created more by the environment they inhabit and their socialization context. The businesses they established were a result of an innate will to succeed and adaptability to overcome constraints. The research does not establish the empirical correlations between the different traits. This study used a qualitative and interactive approach to classify the traits of successful business leaders and develop a model showing the potential relationships and behaviours that breed sustainability or success.