School of Women and Gender Studies (SWGS) Collections

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 133
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    Gender and loan management in financial institutions: interrogating experiences of loan’s officers in Ugandan commercial banks
    (Makerere University, 2026) Nagawa, Teddie
    The study examined the gender influences in loan management practices in Ugandan commercial banks, focusing on the experiences of Loan Officers in the execution of credit-related functions. This study interrogated gendered dynamics manifest in loan decision-making, risk assessment, client interactions, and recovery strategies among Loan Officers in commercial banks. The research was guided by Gendered Organization Theory (Acker, 1990) and Social Role Theory (Eagly & Wood, 1991), which explain how institutional structures and social expectations reproduce gender inequalities in professional settings. A qualitative research approach was adopted within a cross-sectional design, using in-depth interviews and key informant interviews to gather primary data. The study was conducted in Kampala City, involving twenty participants purposively selected from two commercial banks United Bank for Africa (UBA), representing an international bank, and Finance Trust Bank, representing a local financial institution. Data were analyzed thematically in alignment with the study’s objectives. Findings revealed significant gender-based variations in the loan management process. Female Loan Officers exhibited more methodical and cautious approaches to credit evaluation and risk assessment, resulting in lower default rates but fewer loan disbursements. Male Loan Officers, conversely, prioritized efficiency and speed, achieving higher lending volumes but also higher portfolio risk. Gender also influenced client interactions where female officers faced authority challenges, particularly when dealing with male clients, but were more effective in building trust and relational engagement with female borrowers. Institutional practices and cultural norms reinforced these disparities, as women experienced skepticism regarding their competence, stricter performance expectations, and limited upward mobility. Moreover, systemic biases in collateral requirements and loan approval processes disadvantaged female borrowers, reflecting broader gendered assumptions about financial competence and risk tolerance. The study concludes that gender profoundly shapes both the professional experiences of Loan Officers and the overall dynamics of loan management in Ugandan commercial banks. Institutional cultures, embedded stereotypes, and performance metrics collectively sustain gendered inequalities in lending and credit recovery. In view of the findings, there is need for financial institutions to adopt gender-sensitive training, integrate bias monitoring frameworks in credit assessment, and promote leadership diversity to foster inclusivity and equitable treatment in loan management. Additionally, the study calls for policy reforms by the Bank of Uganda and Uganda Bankers’ Association to mainstream gender in financial sector governance and performance appraisal systems.
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    The effects of farmers’ access to, utilization and repayment of agricultural credit on household gender relations: a case of Luwero and Nakasongola Districts, Central Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2026) Kyalisiima, Zephaniah
    The study investigated how farmers’ access to, utilization, and repayment of agricultural credit from VEDCO affected household gender relations in Luwero and Nakasongola districts, Central Uganda. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and the Bargaining Model, it employed a mixed-methods approach with surveys containing both open-ended and closed-ended questions. The research pursued three objectives: identifying gender-specific challenges and opportunities in accessing, utilizing, and repaying agricultural loans; evaluating the agricultural loans’ influence on household gender relations; and exploring alternative repayment strategies employed by male and female farmers. Findings showed that both men and women experienced few difficulties in accessing, utilizing, and repaying VEDCO loans, primarily because agricultural loans were channeled through well-established farmer groups with flexible terms. Comprehensive training in financial management, provision of tractor loans, and gender sensitization workshops further eased access, utilization, and successful repayment of agricultural loans for both genders. Loan access markedly improved gender relations within households. Couples increasingly made decisions jointly, which reduced domestic violence and enhanced marital harmony. Many husbands shared domestic tasks and transferred income-generating assets such as dairy cows and banana plantations to their wives, while wives contributed more to school fees and household expenses. Widows and separated women gained notable economic independence, enabling them to cover daily needs and children’s education. Gender differences persisted in repayment strategies, with men drawing on larger asset bases for diversification and women adopting low-cost innovations due to limited resources. Strong networks connecting farmers, households, communities, NGOs, and government programs reinforced equitable environments through collective initiatives. Despite these gains, ongoing disparities in land ownership, asset control, market access, and women’s time poverty underscore the need for continued targeted interventions. The study concludes that well-designed agricultural credit, delivered through organized farmers’ groups and supported by training and sensitization, holds strong potential to advance gender equity, provided structural inequalities are systematically addressed. Recommendations advocate enhancing gender-responsive credit mechanisms, promoting intra-household equity via workshops, diversifying livelihoods for repayment resilience, integrating theoretical frameworks into policies, advancing mixed-methods research, and enacting urgent reforms for gender-inclusive financing.
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    Rising against the tide : interrogating experiences of women executives in Commercial Banks, Kampala City, Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2025) Kasimbazi, Hope Jemimah
    The banking sector in Uganda is pivotal to the economy but faces challenges regarding women's advancement to top leadership roles. Despite their significant contributions, women hold few leadership positions in Ugandan banks, an area that has been under-researched in developing economies. This study explored women's employability in the banking sector, identifying barriers to their progress informed by the liberal feminist theory and the glass ceiling concept. It examines management perceptions, notable cases of women overcoming obstacles, and strategies to mitigate these barriers. Adopting a qualitative case study approach, the research employed semi-structured interviews with fourteen participants (Nine women and five men), who included board chairpersons, managing directors, and human resource professionals from seven banks. Findings indicate that while progress has been made, an increasing women’s participation in leadership is still limited by systemic barriers such as gender bias, societal stereotypes, implicit biases, and work-life balance issues. Challenges remain. The study underscored the need for banks to foster supportive and inclusive environments by adopting family-friendly policies, mentorship initiatives, and continuous professional development. Addressing work-life balance integration and creating clear career pathways are also critical for empowering women in executive leadership positions. Ultimately, a concerted effort by individuals, organizations, lawmakers, policy makers, regulators, and the government is required to dismantle barriers and promote gender diverse leadership in Uganda’s banking sector.
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    The effectiveness of the existing legal and policy frame works in addressing gender-based violence concerns among women in Kawala, Rubaga Division, Kampala District
    (Makerere University, 2025) Naisubi, Joanitah Mbayo
    Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a widespread violation of human rights that affects millions of women and girls globally (Duncan, 2022). It encompasses physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse directed at individuals based on their gender. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020), one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence. GBV undermining health, safety, and equality, impeding progress towards global development (Organization, 2021). International development frameworks have recognized the urgency of addressing GBV. The Millennium Development Goals (MDG 3) sought to promote gender equality and empower women, while Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) specifically targets the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. These frameworks emphasize the need forstrong legal mechanisms and systemic interventions to address GBV (Equality et al., 2017). GBV has severe consequences for women’s health, economic well-being, and participation in society, and remains a significant barrier to gender equality, particularly in developing countries such as Uganda (Okpokwasili, 2024). . Globally, in 2023, an average of 140 women and girls were killed each day by intimate partners or family members around 51,100 deaths compared to 48,800 in 2022. Most of these killings occurred in the home (UN Women 2022) Studies further found out that around 30–35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and or sexual intimate partner violence, or non-partner sexual violence, in their lifetime specifically, 27% of women aged 15–49 have endured intimate partner violence (Sardinha et al., 2022). However, The effectiveness of legal frameworks against GBV is limited due to enforcement gaps, cultural resistance, and institutional weaknesses for instance as of 2023, only 52 countries explicitly criminalized marital rape (World bank 2023; Davis & Johnstonbaugh, 2024).
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    Gender based violence and women’s economic empowerment in Katanga, Makerere, Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2025) Nalubega, Vanessa Claire
    While Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is widely recognized as a barrier to women's economic empowerment, this study argues that in urban informal settlements like Katanga, Kampala, the two form a self-reinforcing cycle of disempowerment. Using a qualitative case study design, the research demonstrates that GBV acts not merely as an outcome of poverty, but as a patriarchal backlash mechanism that systematically sabotages women's participation in and benefits from government programs like the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and the Parish Development Model (PDM). Conversely, the pursuit of economic independence often precipitates violence. Data from focus group discussions and key informant interviews with 52 participants reveal mechanisms of sabotage including asset confiscation, enforced absenteeism, and psychological trauma that render standalone economic programs ineffective. The findings further highlight fragmented institutional responses that fail to break this cycle. The study concludes that transformative impact requires integrated, GBV-responsive program design and economically-aware GBV services that simultaneously target women's economic agency and the patriarchal norms enabling violence. The research contributes to feminist and resource theories by demonstrating their interplay in urban informal settlements and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, program implementers, and community organizations working at the intersection of gender justice and economic development.