Analysis of financial literacy on small scale enterprises in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyze adoption of financial literacy among the small scale enterprises in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, Uganda. It was founded on the contribution of Small Scale Enterprises (SSEs) in promoting economic growth and development of countries as is widely accepted and documented by scholars and policy makers. Financial literacy enables them to thrive and guarantees their sustainability. The study was guided by the three objectives to; examine the nature of financial literacy adopted by the small scale enterprises, assess the financial literacy challenges experienced by small scale enterprises, and design the possible strategies of proper adoption of financial literacy on small scale enterprises in Kasangati Town Council. The study used a quantitative research, non-experimental and cross sectional designing nature. Units of analysis were operators of small scale enterprises. Primary data was collected using closed ended questionnaire anchored on Likert scale range and analyzed using SPSS V.20.Findings indicated that majority of the respondents agreed to record keeping, budget, regularly saving, safety measures and intermediate levels of risk tolerance for survival as the dominant financial literacy practices. Significant challenges included limited capital for implementation, absence of successful business entrepreneur to emulate, high inflation, perpetual loss and limited information about use of credit cards. However, availability of enough funds, personal finance education, seminars and workshops on finance literacy, well-developed financial institution, early exposure to financial management and information communication technology (ICT) supported to financial education framework were the appropriate dominant strategies to induce inclusion of financial literacy. The study recommends that stakeholders train an intermediate levels of risk tolerance for survival as the dominant financial literacy practices. Significant challenges included limited capital for implementation, absence of successful business entrepreneur to emulate, high inflation, perpetual loss and limited information about use of credit cards. However, availability of enough funds, personal finance education, seminars and workshops on finance literacy, well-developed financial institution, early exposure to financial management and information communication technology (ICT) supported to financial education framework were the appropriate dominant strategies to induce inclusion of financial literacy. The study recommends that stakeholders train and sensitize operators of small scale enterprises on business survival and growth.