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MAKERERE UNIVERSITY INFORMATION NEEDS OF WOMEN MARKET VENDORS IN KASANGATI TOWN COUNCIL, WAKISO DISTRICT, UGANDA BY CAROLINE NANKINGA 2014/HD05/2156U A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY 2019 i ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank my supervisors’ Dr. Walter Omona and Dr. Joyce Bukirwa whose wisdom, experience and patience for me were very precious during this study. Their overwhelming support, availability and encouragement saw me through the entire research process and am truly thankful to have been under their supervision. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my Mother, Sarah Najjuka, for encouraging me and helping me pursue my Master’s Program. I will forever be grateful to her. I wish to thank Assoc Prof. Ruth Nalumaga for her guidance, advice and comments which greatly improved my work. I also would like to express my appreciation to Dr. Dick Kawooya who looked at my topic and encouraged me to forge ahead. I wish to thank the Office of Town Clerk, Kasangati Town Council for allowing me to conduct my research in their markets and for providing me with important statistics. And lastly, I would like to thank the women market vendors of Kasangati Town Council who accepted to participate in this research. They were exceptionally welcoming and willing to share their thoughts and experiences with me. iii DEDICATION This research is dedicated to my Mother, Sarah Najjuka, who encouraged me and helped me pursue this Master’s Program. iv ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to establish the information needs of women market vendors in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District. The following research questions were addressed: What are the information needs of women market vendors in Kasangati town council, Wakiso District? What sources of information are available to women market vendors in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District? What barriers do women market vendors in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District face when accessing information? What are the possible measures to meet the information needs of women market vendors in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District? The study used a qualitative exploratory research design. Respondents were purposively selected to include women who vended foodstuffs, charcoal, African traditional items, papyrus mats, firewood, pottery and makeshift restaurants from Kasangati and Nalyamagonja markets. Data was collected using interviews and observation, and analysed using N’vivo (version 10) computer software. The findings revealed that women entered the market for various reasons ranging from the need to be independent to lack of capital to start up large business ventures. The most commonly needed information was on sources of funding, saving, land and business opportunities. Mobile phones were the most used source of information, followed by radios, and suppliers. Suppliers featured both as an information need and information source. The barriers that respondents faced included language barrier; lack of airtime; unreliable information; lack of time and communication challenges between them and the local authorities. As a result, they lost customers and capital for their businesses which subsequently increased their vulnerability. They were further constrained by lack of infrastructure and access to a number of utilities, like water and sanitation facilities. Key recommendations included: Government recognition of women market vendors and their inclusion in urban development planning processes; Government to team up with telecommunication companies to enable them distribute airtime across the country; Provision of relevant training particularly on information literacy and business. And lastly, information repackaging and dissemination in a few local languages through channels like newsletters, magazine, flyers, posters and other audio-visual materials v TABLE OF CONTENTS APPROVAL ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. DECLARATION ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ v TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... xi ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1Background to the Study ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1.1The Research Context ......................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Aim of the Study ................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Study Objectives ................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................... 7 1.7 Scope of the Study................................................................................................................. 8 1.7.1 Geographical Scope............................................................................................................ 8 1.8 Definition of Operational Terms ........................................................................................... 8 1.9 Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................................... 9 1.9.1 Wilson’s (1996) Model of Information Behaviour ............................................................ 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 14 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 The Informal Sector ............................................................................................................ 14 2.3Information Needs of Women in Informal Sector ............................................................... 15 2.4 Information Needs of Women Market Vendors .................................................................. 16 2.5 Information Sources of Women Market Vendors. .............................................................. 19 2.6 Barriers to Access to Information by Women Market Vendors.......................................... 21 vi 2.7 Improving Access to Information for Women Market Vendors. ........................................ 24 2.8 The Research Gap ............................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 27 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Area of Study ...................................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Research Design .................................................................................................................. 27 3.4 Population of Study ............................................................................................................. 28 3.5 Sampling.............................................................................................................................. 28 3.6 Data Collection Methods and Instruments .......................................................................... 29 3.6.1 Interview........................................................................................................................... 29 3.6.1.1 Interview Guide ............................................................................................................. 30 3.6.1.1.1 Data Collection Hardware Instrument........................................................................ 30 3.6.2 Observation ...................................................................................................................... 30 3.6.2.1 Observation