Faculty of Management Science
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Browsing Faculty of Management Science by Author "Eton, Marus"
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Item Boda-boda business activity and socioeconomic transformation in Wakiso District, Uganda(Journal of Governance and Accountability Studies (JGAS), 2025-07-15) Mbowa, Henry Stanley; Eton, Marus; Tushabe, Sylivia ByarugabaPurpose: This study established the effect of Boda-boda Business Activity (BBA) on socioeconomic transformation in Wakiso District, Uganda. Methods: This study employed a descriptive design with quantitative and qualitative approaches. A total of 89 respondents were determined from 114 people at the boda-boda stage in Kitemu. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics. SEM was employed to establish the causal effect between the variables. Results: The results indicated that people joined BBA to earn a living to support their families (Mean=4.4; Std.D=0.756), due to a lack of jobs (Mean=4.07; Std.D=1.055), and ease of repairing motorbikes (Mean=3.85; Std.D=1.417). Furthermore, BBA had a significant effect on socioeconomic transformation (β=0.392; p˂0.000). Conclusion: The BBA has the potential to bring substantial socioeconomic transformation, including employment creation (mean=4.0), improved mobility (mean=4.12), and stimulated local commerce (mean=3.79) in Kitemu Ward. Thus, the BBA had a positive effect on socioeconomic transformation (β=0.392, p<0.001). Limitation: The study employed a descriptive survey design on motorbike riders in Kitemu Ward, which might hinder generalization of the study findings. Thus, more studies need to be conducted using different research designs on a larger sample of boda-boda stages in Wakiso. Contributions: This study provides information to the Ministry of Work and Transport on how the boda-boda sector can be improved to enhance socioeconomic transformation in Wakiso.Item Exploring the effect of digital finance on financial inclusion in Uganda, a reflection from Lira City(Emerald Publishing, 2025-03-18) Eton, Marus; Mwosi, Fabian; Amandu, Ishaq Yassin; Ocan, Johnson; Ogwel, Bernard PatrickPurpose—The study aims to discuss financial inclusion (FI) as a facilitator of digital financing, with the intention of solving challenges relating to financial exclusion. Design/methodology/approach—To understand the nexus between digital finance (DF) and FI, both descriptive and correlation research designs were used. The study collected data from 300 respondents, including vendors and dealers in agricultural produce, who were selected purposively and randomly. Findings—The study found a significant contribution of DF to FI and significant variations in FI due to mobile money (MM) and Internet banking. MM and smartphones are very often used in performing commercial transactions due to their easy accessibility compared to ATMs, the Internet, and agent banking, which are always restricted. Research limitations/implications—The study only focused on how the DF platform affects financial inclusiveness in Lira City and did not explore other financial services. Social implications—The quickest and widest adoption of MM by rural communities is mostly due to its user-friendliness, which seems to be lacking in other bank applications or products. Originality/value—The study offers significant insight into challenges related to financial inclusiveness, which is a global concern for many economies.Item Institutional staff policies’ implementation and employee job satisfaction in Uganda: A mediating effect of work environment(Academic Journals, 2025-08-31) Omodo, Yusuf; Nsereko, Norman David; Eton, MarusThis study focused on establishing the intervening effect of work environment in the relationship between institutional staff policies' implementation and employee job satisfaction among administrative staff in universities in Uganda. The study was undertaken because most private universities could not afford to pay their staff a living wage and meet their staff's welfare needs, resulting in the challenge of managing dissatisfied administrative staff. The study involved purposive and simple random sampling approaches. The study adopted a descriptive approach to generate data from the targeted population of 495 and a sample size of 215. The study also used a cross-sectional survey to obtain responses, and this generated a response rate of 100% for both the unit of analysis and unit of inquiry. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed to analyze the data. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Amos statistical software. The unstandardized bootstrapping results show that the total effect of institutional staff policies' implementation on employee job satisfaction of selected universities in East and Northern Uganda was significant (B = 0.786, p < 0.01). Upon the inclusion of the mediating variable (work environment) in the model, the impact of institutional staff policies' implementation on employee job satisfaction remained significant (B = 0.366, p < 0.01), though it reduced in magnitude from 0.786 to 0.366. This suggests that the relationship between institutional staff policies' implementation and employee job satisfaction is mediated by work environment. The findings reveal a partial mediation (B = 0.366, p < 0.01), implying that the effect of institutional staff policies' implementation on employee job satisfaction is partially transmitted by work environment. This suggests the critical need for a conducive work environment for staff. Thus, the study recommends that universities prioritize improving the work environment and ensure that employees are provided with a decent working context.Item Mobile money and the dynamics of income inequality(Research & Innovation Initiative, 2025-11-29) Eton, Marus; Ocan, Johnson; Ogwel, Bernard Patrick; Andama, Felix AdiburuPurpose: This article examines the relationship between mobile money adoption and income inequality in Arua City, Uganda. Although mobile money is often promoted as a tool for financial inclusion, its distributional outcomes remain underexplored. Methods: The study uses a mixed qualitative approach, combining household surveys, econometric analysis, and interviews to examine how mobile money affects income disparities. This methodology provides a comprehensive quantitative insight into usage patterns, household income distribution, and individual experiences. Results: Results indicate that mobile money facilitates financial participation, enhances household resilience, and expands economic opportunities, particularly for marginalized groups. However, unequal uptake driven by differences in education, digital literacy, and access to complementary financial services creates a paradox: while mobile money reduces some barriers to inclusion, it simultaneously risks amplifying socioeconomic divides. Implications: The study advances the literature on digital finance by highlighting the context-specific mechanisms through which mobile money influences income inequality. Policy implications point to the need for targeted interventions that strengthen digital capabilities, expand access across income groups, and ensure that financial innovation contributes to equitable development.Item Navigating the enigmas of unregulated nomadic pastoralism on peasant farmer communities(East African Nature and Science Organization (EANSO), 2025-09-15) Ocan, Johnson; Eton, Marus; Akello, Jacqueline; Arinaitwe, Julius AlexanderThis study investigated the profound implications of the roaming pastoral practices of the Balaalo on peasant farming communities in Northern Uganda, particularly the disruptions resulting from their free-range nomadic lifestyles. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected through questionnaires and subsequently analysed using MAXQDA’s auto-coding, sentiment, and text-based analytical tools. The target population comprised 600 individuals across affected communities, with 400 participants ultimately completing the study. The reduced participation was largely attributed to the contextual challenges of unregulated pastoralism: seasonal cattle movements and recurrent land conflicts caused widespread displacement, insecurity, and mobility, which hindered consistent engagement. Furthermore, subsistence farmers often prioritised urgent survival activities over research commitments, making the final sample both realistic and representative of community realities. Findings reveal that loosely regulated mobile pastoralism exerts a significant strain on agrarian livelihoods. The Balaalo’s patterns of land encroachment and the destruction of farmlands have intensified tensions across the Acoli, Lango, and Madi subregions, with a high potential for replication in other parts of Uganda if left unaddressed. The study underscores the structural consequences of nomadic incursions, including disruption of local farming systems, heightened food insecurity, and increasing vulnerability among subsistence households. These dynamics highlight the urgent need for effective policy interventions to balance pastoral mobility with agrarian land rights. The study acknowledges certain limitations. Because the analysis draws on case studies within four districts, the findings cannot fully capture the breadth of livelihood adjustments or the nuanced belief systems of all affected communities. Nonetheless, the research provides valuable insights into ongoing structural transformations in northern Uganda. This work makes three critical contributions: first, it demonstrates the long-term consequences of unregulated pastoral mobility on smallholder farming systems; second, it highlights the formation of alternative and adaptive livelihood strategies within contested rangelands; and third, it situates these processes within broader debates on poverty reduction and vulnerability mitigation in pastoral–agrarian interfaces. By foregrounding the lived realities of farmers confronting the pressures of roaming pastoralism, the study advances both scholarly and policy dialogues on land use, livelihood security, and sustainable coexistence in Uganda and beyond.Item Working capital management, accounts receivable, and performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)(Goodwood Publishing, 2025-12-05) Eton, Marus; Mwosi, Fabian; Ogwel, Bernard Patrick; Olupot, Simon PeterPurpose: This study examined how working capital management and accounts receivables influence the performance of SMEs in Uganda and proposes policy options to address the financial and managerial challenges identified. The study provides insights into how efficient financial practices can support SME sustainability in a competitive business environment. Research Methodology: A cross-sectional research design was adopted to assess the existing conditions of working capital management and accounts receivable practices. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 180 SMEs selected for the study. Inferential statistical techniques were applied during data analysis to test the research hypotheses, and several hypothesis tests were conducted to form a sound basis for interpretation and conclusion. Results: The findings indicate that improvements in working capital management significantly enhance SME performance. Similarly, better accounts receivable practices—such as offering discounts and regularly reviewing credit policies—can contribute to improved financial outcomes. The results show that both working capital management and accounts receivables are significant predictors of SME performance. Conclusions: SMEs that adopt sound working capital and receivables management strategies can thrive even in challenging business environments. Effective financial management also reduces the need for borrowed capital, enabling SMEs to operate more efficiently and sustainably. Limitations: The study was geographically limited to Lira City, which may restrict the applicability of findings to broader contexts. Contribution: The study provides important guidance for SME owners and policymakers on how working capital and receivables management practices influence enterprise performance.