Browsing by Author "Jackson Abandu"

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    Adoption of Mobile Banking Among Agri-Entrepreneurs in Northern Uganda: Do Socioeconomic Factors Matter?
    (Food and Humanity, 2025-09-24) Jackson Abandu; Benedict Oyo; Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga; Basil Mugonola
    Digital financial technologies drive agricultural value chains and food stability in developing regions. Mobile banking in particular, plays an important role in enhancing financial inclusion, improving the livelihoods and food security of rural farming communities. However, the adoption of this technology by agri-entrepreneurs in Uganda is low and under-explored. This study explored the socioeconomic factors driving mobile banking adoption among agri-entrepreneurs in northern Uganda. Utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework and a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to a representative sample of 480 agri-entrepreneurs. PROCESS macro regression analysis shows that gender, age, education level, marital status, income level, mobile device category and ownership were the primary factors driving the behaviors of mobile banking adoption either directly or indirectly via perceived ease of use and usefulness, which are core variables in the TAM framework. The findings suggest that policymakers, financial institutions, and development agencies should tailor mobile banking interventions to the diverse socioeconomic profiles of agri-entrepreneurs. Targeted strategies such as gender-inclusive programs, digital skills training, and age-specific education are essential to enhance perceived ease of use and usefulness. Investments in rural digital infrastructure and affordable mobile technologies are critical to reducing access barriers. By effectively communicating the practical benefits of mobile banking, stakeholders can accelerate adoption, promote financial inclusion, and support broader goals of rural economic empowerment, food security, and poverty reduction in northern Uganda.
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    AN EVALUATION MODEL FOR MOBILE BANKING ADOPTION AMONG AGRI-ENTREPRENEURS IN NORTHERN UGANDA
    (Gulu University, 2025) Jackson Abandu
    The expansion of mobile banking services has created opportunities for financial inclusion and improved enterprise performance. However, many users continue to rely on basic transactions, with limited uptake of advanced services supporting agricultural enterprises. Globally, research on mobile banking adoption has focused on institutional, technological, behavioural, and socioeconomic determinants, but these dimensions have often been examined independently. This has resulted in limited understanding of their integrated influence on mobile banking adoption among agri-entrepreneurs, particularly in northern Uganda. This study developed an evaluation model of mobile banking adoption by extending the Technology Acceptance Model with institutional, behavioural, and socioeconomic factors. The study employed a positivist paradigm through cross-sectional research design on 480 agri-entrepreneurs to generate primary data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and Hayes’ PROCESS Macro to estimate direct and indirect effects. Results showed that institutional factors significantly influenced mobile banking adoption, with awareness emerging as the strongest direct predictor (c′ = 0.3238). Knowledge dissemination, sustainability, user protection, coordination, and training exerted significant indirect effects through perceived usefulness. Perceived ease of use had a significant positive total effect on adoption (c = 0.4413, p < 0.001), demonstrating the importance of usability. Behavioral factors: attitude, trust, and innovativeness, significantly mediated relationships between institutional factors and adoption and were associated with technological perceptions. Among socioeconomic factors, age was the only variable with a significant direct effect on adoption (β = 0.1050, p = 0.047), while other characteristics mainly influenced adoption indirectly through perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Overall, mobile banking adoption among agri-entrepreneurs is shaped by the interaction of institutional, technological, behavioural, and socioeconomic factors rather than technological availability alone. The evaluation model provides a comprehensive framework for explaining adoption behavior in agricultural enterprises. The study recommends strengthening awareness, digital literacy, consumer protection, service usability, and stakeholder collaboration to promote sustainable mobile banking adoption among agri-entrepreneurs in northern Uganda.