Browsing by Author "Gasabiti, Stephen"

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    The effect of interest rate on microfinance institutions in Uganda: case study of pride microfinance-kabalagala branch
    (Kampala International University, College of Economics and Management, 2017-08) Gasabiti, Stephen
    The study is an exploratory research design which sought to determine the factors relied upon by microfinance institutions while charging interest; finding out the effect of interest on the performance of microfinance institutions and suggesting possible alternatives to control this effect. The study relied on qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis and data was gathered from PRIDE Microfinance in Kabalagala. The study also relied on secondary data upon which information related to the specific aims of the study was reviewed. Pride relies on different factors to determine its interest rate. It considers the requirements of the law, the institutional development needs, cost of operation, expected profit, need and convenience of borrower and exceptional knowledge. The study also established that, the performance of Pride Microfinance was affected in such a way that clients resort to borrowing from various sources, high level of defaulting, strict law impositions, operate upon abstract market structures and suffocated means of expansion. It was suggested that microfinance institutions can improve on their performance by devising pro-poor micro credit services which are effective, providing conventional knowledge, widening outreach, ceiling interest rate charges, and through negative taxes for interest charged. It is concluded that the main source of income for microfinance institutions is interest and because of this the institutions are less willing to advise the clients to act rationally, but at the end of it all, the perfo1mance of the institution is also affected. Individuals therefore are provided with loans that they do not qualify to be given, for this the institutions need to be regulated on their interest motive, or else their performance continues to be sluggish. The study recommends that microfinance institutions undertake an advisory role before providing loans, need for road maps to be presented for particular business plans, educating people to learn how to borrow; meeting demands of borrowers, promoting consumer development programs and maintaining interest rates charges as tax free.