Financial inclusion and household welfare in refugee camps in Uganda a case study of rhino settlement camp

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between financial inclusion and household welfare of refugees in Rhino Settlement Refugee Camp. The objectives were to examine the effect of financial accessibility, financial technology, and financial literacy on household welfare. The study adopted a mixed methods approach using a concurrent design, with a case study strategy and cross-sectional design. The target population was 320 respondents, from which a sample of 178 was determined using Slovin’s formula. Probability sampling, including simple random sampling, and non-probability purposive sampling were used. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and documentary review and analyzed using SPSS version 26 through descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, ANOVA, and hypothesis testing, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically and triangulated with quantitative findings. The study concludes that financial accessibility, financial technology, and financial literacy have strong, positive, and statistically significant effects on household welfare. Descriptive findings indicated that financial inclusion enhanced income generation, food security, healthcare access, education, self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and overall socio-economic well-being. Inferential results confirmed significant positive relationships between household welfare and financial accessibility (r = 0.762, p < 0.001), financial technology (r = 0.733, p < 0.001), and financial literacy (r = 0.741, p < 0.001), with regression results further indicating that each variable was a significant predictor of household welfare. All null hypotheses were rejected. The study recommends strengthening partnerships among government agencies, particularly OPM, UNHCR, financial institutions, mobile network operators, NGOs, and development partners to expand access to affordable and appropriate financial services for refugees.