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CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

4.0 Introduction

This chapter presents an analysis of empirical findings of the study as obtained from the field in line with study objectives.

4.1 Demographic characteristics

4.1.1 Introduction

The study had two different types of respondents; those with disability and the non-disabled, their demographic characteristics was discussed in terms of age, type and severity of disability, gender of respondents, marital status, education level and source of livelihood.

4.1.1 Demographic characteristics

During the individual interview and focus group discussions in finding out the age of the respondents, the ages of participants revealed that, there were three Persons with disabilities  who at the time of study were in their twenties, two of the participants were in their thirties, this therefore indicted that five Persons with disabilities  were still in their youthful years. However, it was further revealed that other participants were in their adulthood since one of the participants was in their fifties and other respondents were in their sixties and the other was in their seventies.

On further finding out the age category of the people without disabilities, it was revealed that, there were three people without disabilities in their thirties and one in their forties. It was further discovered that none of the participants who had no disability was below 30, however on further carrying out the interview it was revealed that there were three elderly participants and two were in their fifties and one in sixties.

The findings of the study have revealed that there is participation in Ibanda district of both the Persons with disabilities and non-disabled in informal micro finance groups. This further reveal that there is no discrimination in participation among different age groups of both the people with disability and non-disabled.

During the interview the type of disability and severity of the people with disability was analyzed, there were mainly three different categories of disability that was found in the field during the study, these were physical, hearing and visual disability. However, the researcher discovered that there were two of the participants who had mild physical disability and one with severe physical disability while on findings out the severity of hearing disability there was one participant with severe hearing disability and the other one with mild hearing disability, lastly there was one person with severe visual disability and two of the participants were with mild visual disability. This further indicated that though the participants had different types of disability and severity, they were participating in saving, borrowing and investing in informal microfinance institutions as groups and individuals.

In finding out the gender of both the people with disability and those without disability, the findings revealed that the participants with disability were eight in number, of which there was four men and four women, while the participants who did not have disability included four women and two men, this results also indicated that both genders participated in informal micro finance groups without discrimination.

The marital status of the people with disability who participated in the study indicated that there were three married and five of them were not married while on findings out the marital status of people without disability, it was found out that five of the participants were married and one not married, this further indicated that both the married and unmarried participated in informal micro finance institutions’ services, however it was revealed  that majority of people with disability were unmarried.

The educational level of the participants revealed that people with disability have attained low level of education as compared to people without disability, this was specifically found out that three of people with disability had attained only primary level of education, four people with secondary level of education and only one person had a degree academic qualification, while the people without disability one had primary level education and one with the secondary level education and the three had degree level education with only one person with no education. The findings revealed that micro finance institutions in Ibanda do not discriminate on basis of education and therefore the members have different academic levels however the people without disability have a relatively higher academic level.

During the study the livelihood of the participations with disability and those without disability was studied and the results revealed that five of the participants with disability were engaged in retail business, while three of the respondents were engaged in agricultural activities while on finding out on people without disability, the results revealed that four were engaged in agricultural activities while two were salary earners and one person was a community development officer who was also engaged in agricultural activities. This results therefore indicated that both people with disability and non-disability were earning their livelihoods from agricultural activities and retail business.

4.1.2 Description of information on micro finance group.

The researcher presented the description of information on micro finance groups as described in the table 4:1 below.

Table 4.1 Descriptive information of micro finance groups

Figure 1: Source Primary Data

All informal micro finance groups support members financially and provide business information. There is no special support to persons with disabilities all group members irrespective of disabilities have equal benefits and responsibilities. The informal micro finance group composed of only the disabilities persons (group B) provide informal micro finance services to only persons with disabilities.

Services rendered by informal micro finance institutions in Ibanda district range from money lending to advice giving. Group members are trained on how to keep their business records, realize profits, and minimize losses and customer care.

Regarding the dates of formation of the informal micro finance institutions, it was revealed, that all the micro finance institutions were formed between 2010 and 2021. This shows that these groups have not existed for long.

The results reveal that the main reasons as to why the members joined the informal micro finance institutions was to get loans and social support from group members, this further shows that both persons with impairments and without impairments need loans and social support.

4.3 Perception of persons with disabilities regarding saving, borrowing and investment with informal micro finance groups

Regarding perception of persons with disabilities towards saving, borrowing and investing with informal micro finance institutions. Results reveal that most of the participants save weekly. This show that participants have positive perception towards savings. This was confirmed by one of the physically impaired women from village 2 in Ibanda district on 24^th May 2022;

I only save every Saturday of the week; this is the day when our group members meet and do our weekly savings.

On determining the amount of money saved by participants in different informal micro finance institutions, findings show that, most of the persons with impairments save 300,000sh to 2,000,000sh while ordinary group members save 600,000sh to 5,000,000sh annually. The amount saved reveal that ordinary people save more than persons with visual disabilities. This comparison was confirmed by voice notes of some respondents as below:

One of the female participants without disability stated that;

I am a community development officer, an agriculturalist and business lady,i save money from my business and my salary, this gives me a big savings annually of 5,000,000sh. This has helped me to build my commercial house in village three trading Centre.

While in comparison to the male participant with disability, he reported that;

 I save 3,000sh per week; this enables me to have a total of 700,000sh per year. This amount is mainly from my rabbit and vegetable sales and is the reason why i am grateful for my group E which i joined in 2017.

Participants revealed that they borrow from informal micro finance institutions to increase their business and buying of property.

One of the ordinary group members as below further explained this:

Usually borrow money from my group F normally at the middle of the year to increase the number of my animals for increased milk output. This has enabled me now to have 4 Frisian cows and I sell 80 litters of milk every day.

While one of the female participants with disability stated that.

My group A lends me around 500,000sh, every year which I am using to buy more land to expand my vegetable business.

Majority of the persons with disabilities participants have positive attitude regarding saving, borrowing and investment with informal micro finance groups because of the benefits realized. They report that money is always available any time of its need.  That although, they save 1000-3000sh weekly, they can be given a loan of 180000-1000000 shillings. Savings begin immediately after becoming a group member and any amount can be saved irrespective of individual differences.

Informal micro finance groups borrowed funds help in business expansion, sickness, and school fees. Participants with visual disabilities reported that, borrowed money has helped them expand and start new business activities. This has helped the visually challenged live an independent life with self-love. Two participants with physical disabilities explains this further;

Since i started saving in 2017,i have managed to expand my business and  pay my children school fees on time.

Another participant with a physical a physical disability said:

I no longer beg for what to eat and for repairing my wheelchair because I get money from sale of eggs and chicken. Am no longer a dependent, I go to the market and buy what I want

Again, the person with visual disability participant reported;

Informal micro finance groups have helped me to start art and craft business, i make key holders, necklaces, door mats, and seat covers for boda boda. There i live an independent life, even   ihave paid school fees for my young brothers and sisters

The above quote show that Persons with disabilities have lived an independent life, with their own income helped by informal microfinance groups in Ibanda district.

It was also observed that Persons with disabilities are living independent life and are willing to continue saving and investing with IMF groups.

Reviewed documents of both Persons with disabilities and informal microfinance groups show a positive attitude regarding saving, borrowing investing because there is a high rate of funds turn over. It shows most persons with disabilities participants borrowing and returning funds regularly.

This study findings reveal that, negative perception of persons with disabilities towards investing with Informal microfinance resources is due to harsh policies imposed on group members in case of failure to pay back the borrowed funds.  All study participants reported that when calamity in form of sickness, dry season, theft, pests and diseases fails their money harvest, they failure to pay back the borrowed funds.  Informal microfinance institutions cannot see such a crisis but take their property and others imprisoned.  This was further confirmed by a physically disabled male and one non-disabled participants below;

When thieves broke my house and took my money and produce, informal microfinance sold my land because I had given its land tittle as security. I lost the only land I had and became worse off financially

To further confirm the cause of negative perception towards persons with disabilities investing with informal microfinance resources one non-disabled participant confirmed below.

It is true when we fail to pay back the borrowed money as a group, every group member what he or she had put as surety is taken and sold by informal microfinance institution to regain its money.

4.4 Influences of persons with disabilities choices to invest as individuals or in groups

Most persons with disabilities due to challenges faced while working in a group prefer to invest as individuals. They reported challenges like negative perception towards them by ordinary group members and informal microfinance institutions. The perception by non-disabled group members that, persons with disabilities are cursed, cannot work and raise funds to pay back, make persons with disabilities to work as individuals. This was further explained by a person with visual disability as below:

Non impaired group members see us especially the blind as those who will put the business into a loss because, we cannot see and count money properly. Some see the blind as members who cannot keep records properly. Visually impaired man on 24^th May 2022 in his shop located in village 6.

All participants with disabilities reported that, they would prefer to work and invest as individuals in their homes because of mobility challenge. They too say working alone make it easy to plan for own savings, lead to quick decision making, and profits are enjoyed alone than in groups.

Participants with visual disabilities revealed that they prefer individual choices in investment because when they are in groups can be deceived that, business is not going on well. The blind has a belief that will be cheated by group members because they cannot see the project and its business products. This was confirmed by the blind man as below; We had a group rabbits project as our income generating activity. We were all impaired but my fellow persons with disabilities who could see, one time deceived me that all rabbits were stolen I believed but later discovered that the rabbit project was going on well. Reported by visually disabled participant on 27^th May 2022 at village 7

Another participant with a disability supported individual investment as below;

Sole operated business gives the individual full authority and personal choices. For example, you can decide to shift to another business or expand the available one without many obstacles. Some group members are rigid, they do not want to start or add another income generating activity because are low in risk taking ventures. But as an individual I can take many risks to start my own investments.

All persons with disabilities reported that investing alone using borrowed funds have made them work hard because they know are fully responsible for business losses and profits.  Among them, some have bought land, built rentals, paid school fees for their children to mention but a few, which would not have been possible if they were investing with groups.

Observed data revealed unmodified environmental facilities for example, informal microfinance offices with steps but no ramps. This makes it hard for a wheelchair user to access their offices independently. Trading centers where groups sell their produce from have no special needs toilet when nature calls. Working in groups requires them to move to the project destination yet they are mobility challenged. Investing near their homes reduces on mobility challenges, transport costs to and from their homes to trading centers plus easy monitoring of business activities. This call for a need of persons with disabilities to invest as individuals and in-home based income generating activities because of their mobility challenge

Triangulated data has revealed that persons with disabilities need to work as individuals because of mobility challenges. They can manage well their business in their homes or near in by premises. However, Persons with mild impairments prefer to work in groups mainly for social support, diminishes impairments, get members to stand as sureties when getting a loan, to get different ideas and learning from each other. This is further explained by three persons with disabilities as below.

One blind man reported that when joining groups, members supplement our missing body parts like me who is blind they see for me, move where I cannot access and balance the ledger books reported on 24^th May, 2022 at Village 5 trading center.

The woman participant with a physical disability said that;

Some informal microfinance offices are having steps and hard to access but my ordinary group members access the office, request and get loans on our behalf. On 26^th May 2022 at village 3 trading center.

Another wheelchair user said that:

 my group members help me to push my wheelchair when accessing inform microfinance office and marketing our produce . Reported during an interview in village 10

The above three-quotation reveal that ordinary group members mainly help in mobility and balancing of books of ledger because most persons with disabilities have limited regular education.

One ordinary group member reported that.

Some persons with disabilities want to invest and work with us to supplement their weak part. For example, we help in mobility by pushing their wheelchairs, those with communication problem we bargain on their behalf. We too we have appreciated their residual part for example they give business advice and social capitals. Was observed that, persons with disabilities need to invest with other ordinary members because when it comes to mobility, marketing and selling of their products, they have limitations for example a blind group member cannot, meet sale and market what he or she cannot see.

Reviewed documents of informal microfinance groups show few persons with disabilities among their groups compared to non-disabled members. Few persons with disabilities investing with informal microfinance groups reveal that they prefer individual investments.

Triangulated data reveal that persons with disabilities are having challenge while investing as individuals in terms of marketing, capital raising, saving and record keeping. This is due limited knowledge and skills in income generating activities.

4:5 How persons with disabilities acquire knowledge and skills used while investing resources from informal microfinance groups

All people with disabilities reported that they acquire knowledge and skills from their families, communities, regular education, insight learning and vocational institutions. Community Based Rehabilitation Officers and Community Development Officers identify training opportunities for persons with disabilities mainly in income generating and daily living activities. This equips them with knowledge and skills which help them to use while investing in resources and funds borrowed from informal microfinance.

This was explained by three Persons with disabilities as below;

Informal microfinance institutions organize us through community development offices and we are trained on how to invest the borrowed money profitably. We get business management skills and we are taught how to sustain our income generating activities this was explained by a woman with visual disability on 25^th, May 2022 at village 4 trading center during an individual interview.

A participant with a physical impairment said;

I got the knowledge and skills in resource investment when I was in technical training institute in Bisheshe. We were taught how to keep the ledger books, how to calculate whether the business is operating on profit, loss or at normal point and customer care. on 24^th May 2022 at Kasangura trading center.

The above quotation was supplemented by a participant with hearing disability that;

Through insight learning, at home my grandmother had birds and I could see how she could feed them. Then when I get for regular education, under the topic of poultry and learn more on how to care for the birds ring an interview 27^th May 2022 at village 9

The above quotes reveal that most persons with disabilities get skills and knowledge for investing in income generating activities through insight learning in families, regular education, community-based rehabilitation programmes vocational training and informal microfinance institutions. Most persons with disabilities do not go for further studies due to disability needs. Participants’ education level show most of them as primary level dropouts. This shows available option for income generating knowledge and skills as informal microfinance group trainings, personal customer relation experience and home-based learning.

Documents reviewed on community based programmes and informal microfinance trainings of persons with disabilities in income generating activities, daily living activities like hygiene and sanitation, and environmental utilization and protection of which all are part of customer care and attraction.

4.6 Summary of findings

The individual and focus group discussions guided by the study objectives, found out that perception of persons with disabilities regarding investing, saving and borrowing from informal microfinance groups were both positive and negative. The positive perception was because Persons with disability get capital to start-up income generating activities and the negative perception was because when they fail to pay back the borrowed funds are, they are taken to prison and their property which was given as security is taken by the informal microfinance institutions. Persons with disabilities revealed that, their investment choices as individuals are shaped by the nature of their disabilities, which limits movements. The nature and level of disabilities affect their working as individuals or in groups. The severely persons with disabilities prefer home or nearby business, ventures while those with mild disabilities prefer group investments because they can easily integrate with ordinary members. People with disabilities went on to say that working with the ordinary members supplements their residual parts. They acquire knowledge and skills used while investing resources obtained from informal microfinance groups from their family and community due to limited regular education brought by their unattainable special needs.

4.7 Reflection on the theoretical framework

The study employed the social model of disability by Hughes (2010), conceptualizes impairment away from the individual person. It sees impairments as interaction between the person and the social environmental.  Environmental barriers like unmodified, informal microfinance facilities, negative perception, lack of sign language interpreters in business, leads to self-exclusion of persons with disabilities from informal microfinance groups. The negative perception of informal microfinance group members towards persons with disabilities based on their disability nature, make persons with disabilities to be customers who might fail to pay back the borrowed money.