Browsing by Author "OLWOCH, OCAYA PATRICK"

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    MOBILE BANKING SERVICES AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN BARDEGE LAYIBI DIVISION, GULU CITY
    (Gulu University, 2026-10) OLWOCH, OCAYA PATRICK
    This research examined the influence of mobile banking on financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs in Bardege-Layibi Division, Gulu City, with moderating effect of digital literacy. Four objectives guided the research. The first one was aimed at examining how women entrepreneurs utilize mobile banking services; the second – determining their level of financial inclusion; the third exploring the association between mobile banking services and financial inclusion; the fourth identifying the role of digital literacy in this association. Descriptive survey design was used with cross-sectional timeframe and mixed methods. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from women entrepreneurs, Community Development Officers, Commercial Officers, and market leaders in Bardege-Layibi Division. Sample size of 384 women entrepreneurs was computed based on Cochran’s formula for population size, while 12 key informants were purposefully selected for interview. Data gathering involved questionnaires and interview guide. Quantitative data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis using SPSS software, while qualitative data analysis used thematic analysis. The instrument validity was assessed with the Content Validity Index (CVI = 0.911), while its reliability was established with Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients which ranged from 0.716 to 0.801. Results showed that women entrepreneurs have high utilization of mobile banking services in terms of payment, withdrawal, savings, and inquiry services while the utilization of credit services is low. In addition, women entrepreneurs have a high level of financial inclusion as indicated by improved access, affordability and service quality of financial services. Correlation and regression analysis indicated that payment, withdrawal, savings, and inquiry services have significant positive relationships with financial inclusion, while credit services do not have a significant influence. Furthermore, the study found out that digital literacy significantly moderates the relationship between mobile banking services and financial inclusion such that women entrepreneurs with high level of digital literacy benefit more with financial inclusion from mobile banking services compared to women with low level of digital literacy. The study concludes that mobile banking services greatly enhance financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs particularly with regard to payment, withdrawal, savings, and inquiry services. Digital literacy plays an important role in enhancing the influence of mobile banking services on financial inclusion. The study recommends that governments, banks and mobile money service providers should increase efforts on improving digital literacy of women entrepreneurs, providing affordable digital financial services and designing user-friendly financial products for them.