A Qualitative Research on the Lived Experiences of Market Women with Microfinance

Abstract

This study explores the lived experiences of market women engaging with microfinance institutions in Kampala, Uganda, with particular attention to how microfinance shapes economic empowerment, household dynamics, and social relations. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, the study draws on in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews conducted with 20 market women operating in urban markets across Kampala. The findings reveal that access to microfinance enhances women’s ability to expand businesses, contribute to household welfare, and participate in community networks, thereby strengthening their sense of agency and social recognition. However, these gains are tempered by significant challenges, including rigid repayment schedules, limited financial literacy, and persistent gendered expectations that place disproportionate domestic and economic burdens on women. The study demonstrates that microfinance operates as both an enabling and constraining force in women’s lives. It concludes that women’s empowerment through microfinance is deeply relational and context-specific, calling for more flexible, gender-sensitive microfinance policies that integrate financial services with social support and empowerment-oriented interventions.