This study sought to empirically investigate the impact of monetary policy on the economic growth in Uganda during the period 1985-2013. The variables analysed were real gross domestic product, real interest rates, real effective exchange rates and inflation. The empirical analysis used a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model as well as other techniques in order to obtain meaningful results. Using the Johansen technique, the empirical findings revealed that all the variables share a long run relationship. Further, real interest rates, real effective exchange rates and inflation have a negative effect on economic growth in the long run. The results further revealed that in a ten-year period, the variations in real GDP can be explained by its own innovations followed by real interest rates but real effective exchange rates and inflation however have minimal effects on real GDP. The findings of the impulse response test reiterated the VECM results showing that real interest rates and real effective exchange rate have a negative impact on economic growth in the first three years and the effect dies out after the fifth year. On the other hand, inflation rate has a marginal positive effect on economic growth in the first three years after which the effect becomes negative and wanes off after the sixth year. Uganda uses an Inflation Targeting Lite monetary framework that is based mainly on the use of interest rates to curb inflation. However, this study revealed that the use of interest rates as a policy tool to combat inflation results in a negative bearing on growth. It is on these grounds that this dissertation recommends a gradual policy shift from exclusive use of inflation targeting. Policy makers should thus consider using exchange rate targeting. Mishkin (2013) states that having a credible exchange rate target helps a country to anchor inflation to the expectations of the inflation rate in the economy because it ties the inflation rate of internationally traded goods to those of the country. This would be beneficial to Uganda which is a land locked country that relies heavily on imported products especially petroleum products and fuel whose prices fluctuate from time to time. In addition, exchange rate targeting is effective in reducing inflation quickly especially in emerging economies like Uganda. However, policy makers should be mindful that using exchange rate targeting can make a country prone to speculative attacks on their currencies which could devalue a country’s currency thus leading to a decline in economic growth. It is prudent therefore to apply these policies with a degree of caution.

Today there is no agreement as to how developing countries can achieve sustained economic growth and wellbeing. Over the last 50 years many suggested policy panaceas have failed. Policy makers are now faced with growing economic challenges and confusing policy prescriptions. Against this background, the re-emerging study of institutions now offers new promise in explaining why development has so far eluded so many countries, and consequently, what can be done about it. This thesis deals with questions which to date have only received partial or cursory attention. The study asks: What really are institutions? Why do they matter? What can we learn about them that can help us deal with the current challenging development debacle? This study starts by reaffirming what institutions are. It shows that institutions are inescapable influencers of the way we relate to each other, and the effects we have on our societies’ economic development. Yet so far, scholars and policy makers have not yet fully taken up the opportunity of identifying and utilising the insights that the institutional perspective offers. This study deliberately picks up the challenge. Using the experience of the Uganda coffee sector, it shows that the nature of institutions can be better understood, and their role and impact, better addressed towards pressing development questions. The study shows that by integrating old and new institutionalist perspectives and theories of institutions and institutional change, it is possible to make much more progress towards understanding, explaining and addressing the role and influence of institutions in the development of an economic sector. In so doing this study goes beyond existing works on definition, taxonomy and explanation of institutional influence. It raises new insights to be considered as we face today’s contemporary development challenges. This research should therefore be of interest and value to researchers, students, policy makers and entrepreneurs concerned with economic development and the factors that shape and influence it in practice.

Strict enforcement of copyright in least developed countries like Uganda would negatively affect realisation of the right to education which is both intrinsic and instrumental to realisation of economic development goals including the Millennium Development Goals. The right to education is recognised internationally, regionally and by the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995. Universal access to copyrighted educational materials is needed if education in less developed countries is to serve its purposes. However, to stimulate creation of materials for the future, copyright restricts both access and use of copyrighted materials which negatively affects realisation of the right to education in less developed countries. Unfortunately, exceptions as copyright’s tool for enabling access and use are unclear and narrowly construed. For TRIPS compliance, Uganda enacted the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006 without optimally transposing exceptions. Moreover, under the current international framework, even the most maximalist approach to exceptions would not serve less developed country needs. Accordingly, the Berne Appendix for developing countries, though procedurally complex, should be used. This thesis undertakes a critical comparative analysis of relevant international and national copyright provisions. While referencing legislation from selected countries, Uganda’s commendable fair use provisions are nevertheless not optimal for supporting education for economic development. Various doctrinal issues arise from the exceptions and Uganda’s Berne Union ‘absentee’ status. Pending international reforms, maximally transposing and utilising available exceptions is imperative. Key recommendations include: incorporating the human right to education among fair use factors and joining the Berne Union. Classical utilitarianism is used to justify maximising exceptions within the current international copyright framework to promote quality education. Arguably, maximally transposing and using exceptions to support education is the way to facilitate economic development as the ‘greatest good’ for the world’s greatest number living in poverty in less developed countries in an era of globalisation.

The potential of small and micro-enterprises (SMEs) in promoting economic growth in both developed and developing countries is widely accepted and documented by both scholars and policy makers. Lack of access to sufficient financing for these SMEs, especially in developing countries, has been identified as a major bottleneck in realising this potential. Bank credit is one of the major ways of addressing the challenge of inadequate funding that exists in the SME sector. This study was undertaken in order to explore the experiences of bank loan officers and SME borrowers in credit extension to the SME sector in Uganda. The research methodology used multiple methods of data collection which enabled an element of triangulation to be built into the study design. Data was collected both from the supply-side (bank loan officers) and the demand-side (SME borrowers), and entailed unstructured and semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey of loan officer and SME borrower experience. Further data was collected through direct observation of the interactive interviews between loan officers and borrowers, which enabled a unique opportunity to enhance the understanding of experiences of loan officers and borrowers. This method offers a development of extant methodologies that have been used to assess bank lending to SMEs, typically indirect methods such as verbal protocols and hypothetical business plans. The supply-side findings suggest that, in addition to the bank lending guidelines and procedures, the organisational context in terms of institutional structure, borrower attributes (especially their knowledge of bank lending guidelines and procedures) and level of congruence between loan officers and organisational goals are important determining factors of credit flow to SMEs. This implies that the context in which lending guidelines are implemented is as vital as the application of these guidelines. Banks are, therefore, challenged to ensure a favourable organisational context in order to facilitate loan officer decisions. On the credit demand side, it was found that borrowers seek to play an active role in the lender-borrower relationship which, in turn, influences decisions made by loan officers. It was established that, in pursuit of this role, borrowers deliberately pre-plan loan requests in an effort to influence the results of the evaluation of their loan applications by loan officers. At times, borrowers intentionally manipulate the information they disclose to loan officers in order to enhance their chances of obtaining credit from banks. The findings also suggest that, in most cases, the borrowers with some knowledge of bank lending guidelines and procedures find it easier to access credit than their counterparts who lack this knowledge. With regard to women-owned SMEs, while there little evidence of ‘official’ discrimination against women-owned SMEs by bank lending policies, there are systematic, cultural, social and legal impediments that lead most women-owned SMEs to access lower levels of credit than their male counterparts. The study recommends that banks should design lending guidelines that integrate both supply and demand factors, instead of focusing only on supply factors like project viability and collateral availability. It is also recommended that banks should develop comprehensive training programmes for borrowers about all aspects of the lending transaction in order to positively influence them. It is further recommended that there should be more consultations with loan officers and borrowers in order to develop a mutually acceptable set of lending policies. This approach, which integrates bank management, loan officers and borrowers in drawing up lending guidelines and procedures, is likely to minimise information asymmetry in SME lending decisions and create a more conducive environment for promoting credit availability to the Ugandan SME sector.

This study was conducted on the premise that if quality business information is provided to business enterprises, socio-economic transformation could be achieved. The study emanated from the documented problem where business enterprises in northern Uganda were found to depend on "word of mouth" rather than any meaningful formal mechanism for accessing information efficiently. The aim of the study was, therefore, to design an information system for northern Uganda business enterprises. The study makes use of document analysis, questionnaires and interviews. The Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs), information providers and business policy-makers in northern Uganda constituted the population of the study. The data which was collected was edited and analysed to produce graphs, charts and percentages. The main findings indicate that business activities in northern Uganda are diverse - covering almost the entire sector of the economy. The SMEs need information on finance/capital/loans, local markets, business management skills, appropriate technologies, business competitors and security. They are lagging behind in using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). There is a lack of familiarity with changing technology - especially the Internet. Although the SMEs are making a fundamental contribution to Uganda's economy, they face serious challenges, such as insecurity, inadequate electricity, lack of trained information professionals and appropriate technology to access electronic information. The findings further indicate that respondents want business information to be selective to address their needs. The study concludes that the SMEs need an efficient, effective mechanism to provide the required business information. Hence, it is recommended that a business information system (BIS) design be implemented to address their needs. The BIS should provide business information in terms of legal, technical and economic information as well as contact information and management skills. Information should be processed by means of radio broadcasts, the telephone, short text messages, posters, online and CD-ROM formats - as required by the SMEs managers. To facilitate access, BIS should have telephone services; Internet-based services; online small business workshops; business start up assistant; and Talk to BIS services. BIS should have a flexible interface. / INFORMATION SCIENCE / DLITT ET PHIL (INF SCIENCE)

This study was conducted on the premise that if quality business information is provided to business enterprises, socio-economic transformation could be achieved. The study emanated from the documented problem where business enterprises in northern Uganda were found to depend on "word of mouth" rather than any meaningful formal mechanism for accessing information efficiently. The aim of the study was, therefore, to design an information system for northern Uganda business enterprises. The study makes use of document analysis, questionnaires and interviews. The Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs), information providers and business policy-makers in northern Uganda constituted the population of the study. The data which was collected was edited and analysed to produce graphs, charts and percentages. The main findings indicate that business activities in northern Uganda are diverse - covering almost the entire sector of the economy. The SMEs need information on finance/capital/loans, local markets, business management skills, appropriate technologies, business competitors and security. They are lagging behind in using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). There is a lack of familiarity with changing technology - especially the Internet. Although the SMEs are making a fundamental contribution to Uganda's economy, they face serious challenges, such as insecurity, inadequate electricity, lack of trained information professionals and appropriate technology to access electronic information. The findings further indicate that respondents want business information to be selective to address their needs. The study concludes that the SMEs need an efficient, effective mechanism to provide the required business information. Hence, it is recommended that a business information system (BIS) design be implemented to address their needs. The BIS should provide business information in terms of legal, technical and economic information as well as contact information and management skills. Information should be processed by means of radio broadcasts, the telephone, short text messages, posters, online and CD-ROM formats - as required by the SMEs managers. To facilitate access, BIS should have telephone services; Internet-based services; online small business workshops; business start up assistant; and Talk to BIS services. BIS should have a flexible interface. / INFORMATION SCIENCE / DLITT ET PHIL (INF SCIENCE)