| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to establish how Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOS) financial services can be enhanced in Uganda, a case of Sheema district. This was driven by the fact that SACCO financial services play significant role in financial inclusion and it is widely acceptable by scholars and policy makers. The study was guided by the three specific research objectives which include: - to examine the determinant of Savings and Credit Co-operatives financial services in Sheema district; to identify the challenges affecting Savings and Credit Co-operatives financial services in Sheema district and to establish the appropriate strategies to enhance Savings and Credit Co-operatives financial service in Sheema district. The research design used was descriptive with quantitative approach and cross sectional in nature. Units of analysis were SACCOs and unit of inquiry were members and staff from the SACCOs. Primary data was collected from chairman, secretary, committee members and active members from the SACCOs using closed ended questionnaires anchored on Likert scaled range and were analysed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics including frequency, graph mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study indicated that majority of the respondents agreed to training of members about saving accounts benefits and procedures, access and utilization of credit, monitoring of saving passbooks, charge low management fees, offering financial services daily (24/7 day), lobbying fund government transfers from government determine operations of SACCOs financial service. However, poor marketing of SACCO financial service, weak capital base, weak internal controls, poor management integrity, lack of common interest charge on credits, poor credit controls on loan recovery, insufficient auditing and inspection services were dominant challenge facing the operation of SACCO financial services. Strategies included; offering loans at low market interest rates, use of cloud-based and multi-platform solution to credit appraisal, lobbying government funds, advanced data management and reporting system to monitor and supervises financial services, sensitization of members on use of credit advances and high interest income on savings enhances SACCO financial services. The study recommends that SACCOs should sensitize members on Annual General Meetings and field visit, procure computerized accounting system, strengthen the internal controls through segregation of duties, lobby external funds from the government and world bank; conduct mid-term auditing; and high interests rate on savings to enhance SACCO financial services in Uganda. | en_US |
