UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT August 2008
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UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY August 2008 August 2008 AMFIU House Plot 679, Wamala Rd, Najjanankumbi, Off Entebbe Rd AMFIU P. O. Box 26056 Kampala - Uganda Tel: +256 (0) 414 259176, Fax: +256 (0) 414 254420 ASSOCIATION OF MICROFINANCE JIREH GROUP Tel: +256 312 273126, INSTITUTIONS OF UGANDA Email: [email protected] : +256 712 965 315 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.amfiu.org.ug jirehgroupinvestmentsltd UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENTUGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT AUGUST 2008 1 UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT FOREWARD Microfinance in Uganda has taken big strides since 1996 when stakeholders formally came together and since then it has been recognized internationally for its contribution to the economic and social development of the economically active poor in Uganda. However, due to the nascent level of the industry, there is limited and scattered information on what is taking place in the microfinance industry in Uganda. This Microfinance Industry Assessment study tries to compile information on various issues on the microfinance industry and gives an over-view of the general financial sector in Uganda, development and trends in the microfinance industry and issues on regulation of the sector. It provides a wealth of information and knowledge on what microfinance in Uganda is all about, how it fits into the overall financial sector and the role of various stakeholders in the industry. As a national Network for Ugandan microfinance practitioners and stakeholders, the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda (AMFIU), has been involved in all the different stages of development of the MF industry. Currently, the network has over 100 members that positively impact on the lives of the poor people in Uganda. 2 Last but not least, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the AMFIU secretariat team, particularly the Research and Advocacy Officer Jacqueline Mbabazi Arinanye, and the Operations Manager, Solomon Kagaba for working tirelessly to put together this book. Special thanks go to Friends Consults, who were contracted to conduct the study and Kristen Cortiglia from the SEEP Network, whose input enriched the findings of this study. Hope you enjoy your reading, David T. Baguma EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENTUGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT LIST OF ACRONYMS ADC Austrian Development Cooperation ADF African Development Fund AFCAP Africa Capacity Building Program AfDB African Development Bank AMFIA Association of Microfinance Institutions of Ankole AMFIU Association of Microfinance Institutions in Uganda ASPS Agricultural Sector Program Support ATM Automated Teller Machine BB Bonna Bagagawale (Local Phrase for “Prosperity for All”) BCF Business Culture Fund BoU Bank of Uganda CBU Capacity Building Unit CFIs Community based Financial Institutions CGAP Consultative Group to help the Poor CIs Credit Institutions CMA Capital Markets Authority CMF Commercial Microfinance Ltd CRS Catholic Relief Services DANIDA Danish International Development Agency DCA Development Credit Authority 3 DFCU Development Finance Company of Uganda DFID Department for International Development EU European Union FIA Financial Institutions Act FINCA Foundation for International Community Assistance FIS Financial Institutions Statute FSD Financial Sector Development FSDU Financial Sector Deepening Project Uganda FSS Financial Self Sufficiency GDP Gross Domestic Product GoU Government of Uganda GTZ German Technical Cooperation IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development MCAP Matching Grant Facility for Capacity Building MCC Microfinance Competence Centre MDI Micro Deposit taking Institution MED Net Micro Enterprise Development Network MF Microfinance MFF Microfinance Forum MFI Microfinance Institution MoFPED Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development MOP Microfinance Outreach Plan MSCL Microfinance Support Centre Ltd MTCS Medium Term Competitiveness Strategy UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT MTTI Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry NGO Non Governmental Organization NORAD Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation NSSF National Social Security Fund PAP Poverty Alleviation Program PEAP Poverty Eradication Action Plan PMA Plan for Modernization of Agriculture PMT Performance Monitoring Tool PMS Performance Monitoring System PRESTO Private Enterprise Support Training and Organizational Development PRESTO/CMF PRESTO Centre for Microfinance PRIDE Promotion of Rural Initiatives for Development Enterprise PSDG Private Sector Donor Group RFS Rural Financial Services RMSP Rural Microfinance Support Centre ROSCAs Rotating Savings and Credit Associations Rural SPEED Rural Savings Promotion and Enhancement of Enterprise Development SACCO Savings and Credit Cooperative SEEP Network Small Enterprise Education and Promotion Network SIDAs Sub-County Development Associations SMEs Small and Medium Enterprises 4 SPEED Support for Private Enterprise Expansion and Development SUFFICE Support to Feasible Financial Institutions and Capacity building Efforts TA Technical Assistance TERUDET Teso Rural Development Trust Ltd TSC Transformation Steering Committee UA Unit of Account UBOS Uganda Bureau of Statistics UCA Uganda Cooperative Alliance UCB Uganda Commercial Bank UCPA Uganda Consumer Protection Unit UCSCU Uganda Cooperative Savings and Credit Union UFT Uganda Finance Trust UGAFODE Uganda Agency for Development Ltd UML Uganda Microfinance Limited UNDP United Nations Development Program USAID United States Agency for International Development USE Uganda Stock Exchange USh Ugandan Shilling YES Youth Enterprise Scheme UGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENTUGANDA MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .........................................................................................2 LIST OF ACRONYMS .........................................................................3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................6 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................8 1.1 General Background ..................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Rationale for the Report ................................................................................................ 8 1.3 Work Methodology and Tasks Accomplished .............................................................. 8 2.0 COUNTRY OVERVIEW ......................................................................9 2.1 General Economic Policy Framework .......................................................................... 9 2.2 Population and Demographics .................................................................................... 10 2.3 Macroeconomic Situation ........................................................................................... 12 3.0 THE FINANCIAL SECTOR ..............................................................14 3.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 History and Development ........................................................................................... 15 3.3 Principal Categories of Suppliers of Financial Services ............................................. 18 3.4 Access to Financial Services ....................................................................................... 22 3.5 Barriers to Access for the Poor and Low Income Segments of the Population .......... 25 3.6 Recent Developments ................................................................................................. 25 3.7 The Role of Government ............................................................................................ 26 3.8 The role of Bank of Uganda (BOU) ........................................................................... 27 5 3.9 The Role of Donors ..................................................................................................... 27 4.0 MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT .........................30 4.1 Historical Context and Development of the MF Industry .......................................... 30 4.2 Brief History and Industry Growth Triggers ............................................................... 34 4.3 Emergence and Growth of MFIs................................................................................. 34 4.4 Commercialization and Integration ............................................................................ 37 4.5 The Start and Role of the Microfinance Forum .......................................................... 38 4.6 Evolution of Government’s Role ................................................................................ 39 4.7 The Birth and Growth of AMFIU ............................................................................... 42 4.8 The Role of Other Meso Level Organizations ............................................................ 44 4.9 Retail Level Suppliers of Microfinance Services ....................................................... 46 5.0 REGULATION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES ..................................47 5.1 Financial Institutions Act 2004 ................................................................................... 47 5.2 The MDI Act 2003 .....................................................................................................